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darnalearnstowrite · 1 year

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the sound of an unconditional surrender

A/N: Well, Shadow and Bone S2 blindsided me with a new "I don't know how the hell this would work but I'm here for it" ship and I had to write something, even if it's just a quick 10-minute ficlet. Why the hell my brain insisted on Kaz POV I have no idea, but I hope it works.

Name, as is my tradition, from a Diablo Swing Orchestra song.

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When the Volkvolny returns to port, he's there. Of course he's there. A distance away from the pier, perhaps, but he's there.

Oretsev gives him a nod as he strides past carrying ropes and hollering orders at the disembarking crew. He nods back -- already distracted.

She's walking down the pier in confident strides, hair blowing in the breeze, sun glinting on her daggers. Tolya's big arm rests around her shoulders and she's not shrinking away. In fact, hers is curled around his waist, fingers tucked into his belt.

His jaw tightens and his fingers ball into tight fists around his cane. He plants his feet and locks his knees, forces himself not to be a coward for once.

Her gaze lands on him. And brightens, softens.

His follows suit, with a warm, knowing smile. He blinks and takes a breath, momentarily reeling.

When she's standing in front of him, she squeezes Tolya's arm. The pirate's gaze sweeps her face before he gives them a gentle nod and steps away.

Not far. And while his gaze ostensibly searches for his sister, he knows he's still tuned into her, listening for her breathing, her heartbeat. He can respect that.

"Did you find your brother?"

She exhales. Relieved, but her smile is bittersweet. "Yes. He has a new family, now. We... promised to write."

"Hmm." His gaze bores into her. "And you?"

She tilts her head in that familiar, exasperated way and sighs, challenge heating her eyes and sharpening her voice.

"I came back, didn't I?"

The to you is silent and he wonders if he imagined it. He blinks slowly and glances five steps away and to the left. "Yes. You did."

This time she does not fail to roll her eyes. She reaches out her left hand and Tolya is there at her side, fingers intertwined with hers, his gaze steady and warm on her. And then on him.

She lifts her right hand in front of her, palm open, eyes burning. Willing him to figure it out. Willing him to swallow the dregs of fear and pride and accept.

"Yes. We did."

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#Kaz x Inej x Tolya #Kaz x Inej #Inej x Tolya #Kaz x Tolya #Kaz Brekker #Inej Ghafa #Tolya Yul-Bataar #tolnej #tolkanej #Shadow and Bone #Shadow and Bone Netflix #SaB fic #Grishaverse fic #fanfiction #ficlet #rating: pg

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queer-book-character-tournament · 10 months

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Character, book, and author names under the cut

Luo Binghe- Scum Villain's Self-Saving System/Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Tolya Yul-Bataar- Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

#Luo Binghe #Scum Villain's Self-Saving System #Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong #SVSSS #MXTX #Mo Xiang Tong Xiu #Tolya Yul-Bataar #Shadow and Bone #sab #Grishaverse #Leigh Bardugo #polls #lgbt books #queer book character tournament 2

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unrequitedloveletter · 1 year

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Time and Time Again- Platonic! Tolya Yul-Bataar x Gn! Reader

Okay, this one was requested by the purple alien emoji anon! Anon, if you’re reading this, I hope you like it and I’m sorry it’s taken me so long--April was one hell of a month and May has turned out to be quite the same so far, but I promise any requests you send in will come out a bit more efficiently lol

Okay, just a bit of a quick disclaimer, none of the quoted poetry lines are actual lines from poetry, I couldn’t find any I liked in a lot of the scenarios so all of the poetry in this is entirely fictional.

Fic type- fluff!

Warnings- none

The first time you and Tolya had met had been in Ravka. You worked in a library in a small town in Ravka, and it became a place that Tolya frequented while he worked for Sturmhond, going to the library in his off days and finding you there.

You became friends quickly, bonding over a mutual love of poetry and lit. You expanded Tolyas horizons, something that had been a relief to Tamar when she found that her brother didn’t quote poetry nearly so often as he once had.

When he’d left, he’d promised to see you again. “I don’t forget my friends,” he’d said. “You’ll see me when the war is over, Y/N.”

You’d given him a grin, slipped a poetry book you’d thought he’d enjoy into his pack as he left.

Then the two of you met again, your hair cropped shorter then it had been when you had first seen each other in the library you’d once worked in. Your eyes had been a different color, too, and your hair had been just a few shades darker.

The second time you met, you’d worked in a bookstore rather than a library, never quite wanting to stray too far from your beloved books.

“Why is your hair different?” Tolya had asked one night as you were wiping down the table Tolya had brought up five steps so that you could set up a poetry display. “And your eyes. They’re different to how I last remember them.”

“My hair isn’t different,” you’d said. “Nor are my eyes. Your memory is skewed.”

“My memory is in perfect condition,” Tolya rebutted.

You laughed, shook your head as you moved to wheel the cart of books over to the table Tolya had brought up. “‘A memory as good as yours must make fools feel smart, my dearest enemy’“

“Vasquez,” Tolya said with a smirk. “The poem from her collection about the person she hates. That one is called An Enemy Who I Hold Dear. Page 102, line 22 out of 43.”

“Ah,” you said with a grin, taking the stacks of books out and beginning the process of organizing them on the table. “You’ve still got it, then. Good to know.”

Tolya scoffed. “Of course I do, Y/N.”

You laughed. “Yeah, Tolya. Forgive me for having my doubts.”

Tolya grinned, part of him glad to be in your presence again. “I’ve missed you,” he said. “In Os Alta. Your presence at the library has been wiped clean.”

“‘I am everywhere, and I am nowhere all at once. I cannot be contained.’”

“Hanlen,” he said. “The poem ‘Everything, Nothing, All of It’. Lines seventeen and eighteen. Stop dodging my questions and my lead up into questions with quotes.”

“No.”

Tolya gave an exasperated laugh, some part of him debating walking out of the bookstore. He chose not to in the end, though, and the two of you stayed talking for the rest of the night.

Then, Tolya returned to the bookshop at which you worked and found you weren’t there. Much as it’d been at the library, any record of your presence had been wiped clean.

Such was how it went from then on. Every few months, you’d crop up, with newly pigmented hair, eyes, a new name and new identity, working at coffeeshops, bookstores, bodegas and boutiques in cities all over Ravka.

It wasn’t until Tolya found you in a bookstore in Ketterdam that he’d thought to ask you why you did as you did. Why you’d change a couple of things about yourself, assume a new name, and move along.

“Why do you do it?” Tolya asked. “The hair, the eyes, the name. Hell, I think I’ve even noticed that the sound of your voice has changed.”

“I--” you paused, took a sip of the coffee Tolya had brought in two hours before. “Do you really want to know?”

“It is something I’ve found most intriguing throughout the course of our friendship,” Tolya said, gently swaying the coffee in his cup to give himself something to do. “So yeah. Spill.”

“I’ve got a couple of heists under my belt,” you said. “Big ones. Think Fjerdan Royal Palace, Kerch museums, Kaelish museums, a couple of big jurda plants in Novyi Zem.”

“So you’re on the run, then?”

“No,” you said. “I’ve gotten away with these heists by quite the large mile, Tolya. I’ve just never loved the idea of living in the same spot for the rest of my eternity. I love staying on the move, gives me something to do and keeps any one spot from becoming boring.”

Tolya grinned. “I have someone I’d like you to meet,” he said. “We can go now, I’m meant to go back to the ship in the morning anyhow.”

“The ship?” You asked. “Oh, Tolya. If you take me to meet a pirate, I’m absolutely going to make you regret it! Pirates are the worst, as someone who’s worked with them too many times for their own good.”

“He’s a privateer,” Tolya said. “Different then pirates. Just as willing to take on criminals, but less--” he gestured widely with his hands.

“Privateers have less oomf?” You said, nodding understandingly. “All right. I’ll meet him. What’s the goal?”

“That he likes you enough to give you a job, which he will,” Tolya said. “It’ll be a wonderful opportunity, Y/N. You just have to trust me.”

And a wonderful opportunity it turned out to be. You and Sturmhond talked for fifteen minutes before he was offering you a job and you were accepting it, grateful that Tolya had thought to introduce you to him.

Your life had sorted out, so it seemed, and that was all that mattered in the end.

#tolya yul-bataar #tolya yul-bataar x reader #platonic! tolya yul-bataar x reader #shadow and bone #shadow and bone netflix

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takaraphoenix · 1 year

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Real failure of s2 though? Them not bringing back Milo the Goat :/

Tolya would have loved Milo, I know this in my heart. Goat mascot for the pirate ship, c'mon!

#Milo the Goat #Shadow and Bone #Shadow and Bone Season 2 #Tolya Yul-Bataar #this is 95% a shitpost I KNOW logically #it'd not have made sense to bring Milo into s2 #I am with the other 5% however 100% serious that poetry loving sweetheart Tolya woulda loved Milo

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pointyearsuniverse · 1 year

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Lewis Tan Gif Hunt

— Shadow and Bone Season 1

✖ All of these gifs are mine! ✖ Please like or reblog if you use.

#Shadow and Bone #Lewis Tan #Tolya Yul-Bataar #Tolya

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backgroundagent3 · 18 days

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for the grishverse asks…just all of them, if you’re okay with that ofc!

Thanks for the ask! This was so much fun to think about. 💙

There's some that I'd already answered, so I tried to give new responses. It got quite long, and there's a lot of spoilers, so keep reading under the cut.

Shadow: rank all the Grishaverse books you’ve read.

Six of Crows. Almost tied with Crooked Kingdom. This is one of my favourite books ever. The characters are some of my favourite characters ever, and the ships are perfect. I love how detailed their backstories and personalities are, it makes them so believable and nuanced. I'm a sucker for heists and plot twists I can barely comprehend, so this is the perfect book for me.

Crooked Kingdom. More of the characters, ships and storylines I've already fallen in love with? Yes please. I ate up all the Kanej content, and I was so sad when it ended, it's such a great duology.

King of Scars. Another great book. Maybe the plot wasn't as good, and it felt a little slow, but Zoyalai? The Grisha Triumvirate? Genya and David? Perfection. Honestly a book can have the most boring plot ever, but as long as I get interesting characters with great dynamics I won't care, I'm here for them and them only.

Ruin and Rising. I remember the original trilogy very vaguely, but I thought this was the best book out of all of them. It definitely wasn't perfect, I found the storyline of the tunnels so suffocating, and every time someone mentioned the Apparat I wanted to throw the book across the room, but overall it was a nice conclusion to the trilogy.

Shadow and Bone. It's not perfect, but clearly good enough to get me hooked. I was instantly amazed at the worldbuilding, and I liked the way we're introduced to the different elements of the Grishaverse. Sometimes it's too much information at once, or you get confused because something hasn't been properly introduced, but Leigh Bardugo did a great job of that, and paces it well.

Rule of Wolves. I liked most of the book and I absolutely loved the moments focused on Zoya, but it completely ruined Nina for me. I loved her so much before, but here I got bored on every chapter that was about her. I think a lot of her character development was ruined on this book, and her ending was so bad.

Siege and Storm. The only reason this book is ranked last is I can barely remember anything. I liked Nikolai, but Mal and Alina were so annoying.

Bone: have you seen the show? What’s the best part of it?

I have seen it, and even though it's far from perfect, it's one of my favourite shows ever. Even though it's hard, I do have to separate it from the books to be able to enjoy it properly though, because let's be honest, it's not a very good adaptation. So considering that, I loved the cast and the times the crows were on screen. I think my favourite part overall was during season 2, when the crows and Zoya went on their little side quest to Shu-Han. I also loved Genya and David, they were adorable, but I'm gonna have to go on to the next question before I start thinking about them too much.

Siege: if you got to kill off one character, who would it be?

I don't know, the Darkling? I couldn't believe he was still alive in King of Scars, and it felt a little forced to be honest. Or Tante Heleen.

Storm: share and tag your favorite fan art.

My favorite fanarts these Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom papercrafts by @rosiethorns88. The level of details is insane, I could look at it for hours. I also really love @kayadraws and @chemdoodles artworks. I couldn't choose a specific one because they're all so cute and fun, and I love the styles in which they draw the characters.

Ruin: favorite character?

Like I said, Leigh Bardugo writes amazing characters, so this is a really tough choice, but overall I have to go with Inej Ghafa. Honorable mentions to Zoya, Kaz, Nina, Genya and Nikolai.

Rising: what’s the best ship? Canon or otherwise.

Again, a lot of amazing ships, but Kanej will always be my favourite, closely followed by Zoyalai.

Six: favorite Grishaverse quote?

I've answered this one here, but another quote I love is this one from the King of Scars duology:

Zoya of the lost city. Zoya of the garden. Zoya bleeding in the snow. You are strong enough to survive the fall.

Both quotes hit really hard as I read them, cause they were such defining moments for Inej and Zoya, where they realise their potential and who they really are, so they were very special to me.

Crow: which crows do you most and least like?

I answered this here, so I'm gonna do my second most and least favourites. My second favourite is Kaz. I think it's really cool how he's such a complex character but in a way that doesn't redeem him, if that makes any sense. Like he might be willing to change and improve himself, but he's still very much a ruthless criminal. I also love how he is completely aware of that, especially when it comes to Inej. As for my second lest favourite, I guess Wylan? Don't get me wrong, I still love him, but the other crows are just perfect to me.

Crooked: if you got to rewrite the first chapter of Six of Crows, how would you do it?

I don't think I'd rewrite it, I'd just have another chapter before that one, with at least one of the crows and an introduction to the plot of Joost's chapter. I remember reading it and being so confused, because it jumps straight into what's a pretty complicated story. If I did have to rewrite it, I would write it from one of the crows' perspective, because it was really confusing not seeing Joost at all during the rest of the book, and I don't think it would have been very hard to have maybe Inej sneak into the Van Eck mansion to spy.

Kingdom: pick a character and give them a theme song.

I've answered this one here, but recently I've been thinking of Jesper whenever I listen to Little Lion Man by Mumford & Sons.

King: what’s your favorite idea for a new series in the Grishaverse?

Maybe not for a new series, but I like the idea of continuing Rule of Wolves where they left it, so we could have another heist with the crows looking for Sankt Feliks's heart, which would tie in the Six of Crows and the King of Scars duologies together. I think it would be such a great story for so many reasons. For starters, it gives a reason for the crows and the King of Scars gang to interact more, which I'd love to see. Genya would be able to heal from losing David and maybe get a cool storyline focusing more on her. We'd get to see more of Zoya as the queen, and her relationship with Nikolai. Heist shenanigans. Wesper being dragged into a new mission. Kaz trying to trick the Ravkans. Zoya not having any of his nonsense. Kanej. Inej as Captain Ghafa. Kanej. Tolya and Tamar meeting the crows. KANEJ. And above all else, a chance to fix Nina's ending. So. Much. Potential.

Scars: which character deserved better?

Well on that note, I'm gonna go with Nina. Also Genya and David!!

Rule: favorite book cover?

Six of Crows. I love how the crow's feathers also act as the silhouette of Ketterdam.

Wolves: sort all the characters you can into Hogwarts houses, (or choose to give them zodiacs, mbtis, alignments, etc—).

I'm gonna go with Hogwarts houses because I know nothing about zodiacs or any of those things.

Kaz Brekker: Slytherin.

Inej Ghafa: Ravenclaw.

Jesper Fahey: Gryffindor.

Nina Zenik: Gryffindor.

Wylan Van Eck: Ravenclaw.

Matthias Helvar: Hufflepuff.

Kuwei Yul-Bo: Ravenclaw.

Alina Starkov: Hufflepuff.

Malyen Oretsev: Gryffindor.

Nikolai Lanstov: Slytherin.

Zoya Nazyalensky: Slytherin.

Genya Safin: Hufflepuff.

David Kostyk: Ravenclaw.

Tolya Yul-Bataar: Ravenclaw.

Tamar Kir-Bataar: Gryffindor.

The Darkling: Slytherin.

Ketterdam: change the ending of one of the books.

I think I'd just have something at the end of Rule of Wolves that indicated that there was definitely going to be another book about that heist I was talking about. I also said about how much I hated Nina's ending, but honestly, I don't think that could be fixed by just changing the ending, especially after spending two whole books undermining her character development.

Os Alta: when did you get into the Grishaverse? Tell us all about it.

It was in July 2021, and I went camping with my friends and family. Every night my friend read me and my other friend a bit of Six of Crows, which she had recently discovered and was obsessed with. We got really into it, and she convinced me to read the books. As soon as we got back home I started reading Alina's trilogy, then the duologies. Because my friend had only read the Six of Crows duology, I convinced her to read the rest, so full circle moment.

Djerholm: what pair of characters would you kill to see interact with each other?

Inej and Zoya above all, but also Kaz and The Darkling, cause I just think it would be hilarious. Picture the most powerful man in the world, who's been around for centuries, practically rules over a country and all the magical people in it, and is responsible for the most dangerous and horrific creation to ever exist. Now picture an emo teenager who's into magic and calls the love of his life an investment. The Darkling would not stand a chance.

The Unsea: what type of Grisha powers would you want to have? Or what crow’s skills would you want to steal?

If I was Grisha I would love to be a Tidemaker. As for the crows I think Inej's skills would be fun to have.

The True Sea: rant about whatever Grishaverse thing you want to (a hot take, something that bothers you, something you love, etc).

I think I've ranted enough for one post, and I'm too tired to think right now, but I would love to talk more about any of these things, just pop back in my ask box whenever you want.

This has been so much fun to write, so thanks again for the ask! 💙

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im-just-as-sane-as-you · 1 year

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an absolute BAMF who reads poetry

marry me tolya

#tolya yul-bataar #shadow and bone #lewis tan

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lehdenlaulu · 1 year

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Okay, but...

Tolya repeatedly putting himself in harm's way to protect Inej. Not to show off or because he thinks she can't handle herself, but because life debt is Serious Business. And Inej, flustered and exasperated (and terrified, too, because she's not about to lose this person now that she has him in her life) just as repeatedly insisting that it was Wylan and he owes her nothing.

Tolya watching over Inej as she sleeps/naps – especially at first because stuck on a ship with virtual strangers is not the easiest thing for her to adapt to – just staying near and humming calming tunes or softly reciting choice stanzas etc. until one day before long she's basically using him as a pillow.

Tolya picking up on her impending panic attacks and desire to disappear before even she does and soothing her – with her permission, though for some realistic drama, I can see how he would especially initially instinctively try to calm her and her lashing out because he did it without her consent.

Tolya always being able to find her on the ship but knowing when to give her space and let her come to him.

Tolya letting Inej handle the worst of the slaver scum and afterwards talking it through with her, or just praying with her or sitting quietly with her or holding her.

Inej and Tolya talking about their faith, similarities and differences and what it means to them.

Tolya teaching Inej to meditate.

Tolya gifting Inej with little trinkets and trophies and braiding them into her hair for her. And one day, she'll perhaps even accept something from his own hair. Not as some kind of mark of ownership – not with Tolya, never with Tolya – but as a little piece of him to carry with her always.

Tolya and Inej sparring until they flow together like wind and water, almost as in sync as the twins.

Tolya carrying Inej on piggyback. As, you know, light cardio. And just because.

Hugs. Lots of hugs. Twin hugs! My sister is your sister too, now.

Tamar (and Nadia) teasing Tolya about Inej and him taking it in good-natured stride while Inej blushes somewhere within earshot.

Because it's not like that. Is it? Maybe it is like that. Inej Ghafa no longer has any patience for not knowing where she stands with a man. So she asks.

It is whatever you want it to be, Tolya says, for however long you want it – but as long as they both live, she'll always have his sword.

#Tolya x Inej #Inej x Tolya #tolnej #Inej Ghafa #Tolya Yul-Bataar #Tolya Yul Bataar #Shadow and Bone #Shadow and Bone Netflix #SaB S2 #SaB spoilers

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