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baddyxangel · 4 years

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GUYS. The Darklina scene has arrived. Enjoy: “If only I’d known you’d prove such an apt pupil.” His voice was genuinely admiring, almost surprised. To my horror, I found that pathetic orphaned part of me taking pleasure in his praise. “Why come to me now?” he asked. “Has it taken you this long to recover from our skirmish?” If that had been a mere skirmish, then we really were lost. No, I told myself. He’d chosen that word deliberately, to intimidate me. I ignored his question and said, “I didn’t expect compliments.” “No?” “I left you buried beneath a pile of rubble.” “And if I told you I respect your ruthlessness?” “I don’t think I’d believe you.” The barest smile touched his lips. “An apt pupil,” he repeated. “Why waste my anger on you when the fault is mine? I should have anticipated another betrayal from you, one more mad grasp at some kind of childish ideal. But I seem to be a victim of my own wishes where you are concerned.” His expression hardened. “What have you come here for, Alina?” I answered him honestly. “I wanted to see you.” I caught the briefest glimpse of surprise before his face shuttered again. “There are two thrones on that dais. You could see me anytime you liked.” “You’re offering me a crown? After I tried to kill you?” He shrugged again. “I might have done the same.” “I doubt it.” “Not to save that motley of traitors and fanatics, no. But I understand the desire to remain free.” “And still you tried to make me a slave.” “I sought Morozova’s amplifiers for you, Alina, that we might rule as equals.” “You tried to take my power for your own.” “After you ran from me. After you chose—” He stopped, shrugged. “We would have ruled as equals in time.” I felt that pull, the longing of a frightened girl. Even now, after everything he’d done, I wanted to believe the Darkling, to find some way to forgive him. I wanted Nikolai to be alive. I wanted to trust the other Grisha. I wanted to believe anything so that I wouldn’t have to face the future alone. The problem with wanting is that it makes us weak. A laugh escaped me before I thought better of it. “We would be equals until the day I dared to disagree with you, until the moment I questioned your judgment or didn’t do as I was bid. Then you would deal with me the way you dealt with Genya and your mother, the way you tried to deal with Mal.” He leaned against the window, and the gilded frame came into sharp focus. “Do you think it would be any different with your tracker beside you? With that Lantsov pup?” “Yes,” I said simply. “Because you would be the strong one?” “Because they’re better men than you.” “You might make me a better man.” “And you might make me a monster.” “I’ve never understood this taste for otkazat’sya. Is it because you thought you were one of them for so long?” “I had a taste for you, once.” His head snapped up. He hadn’t expected that. Saints, it was satisfying. “Why haven’t you visited me?” I asked. “In all these long months?” He stayed silent. “There was barely a day at the Little Palace when you didn’t come to me,” I continued. “When I didn’t see you in some shadowed corner. I thought I was going mad.” “Good.” “I think you’re afraid.” “How comforting that must be for you.” “I think you fear this thing that binds us.” It didn’t frighten me. Not anymore. I took a slow step forward. He tensed but did not move away. “I am ancient, Alina. I know things about power that you can barely guess at.” “But it’s not just power, is it?” I said quietly, remembering the way he had toyed with me when I’d first arrived at the palace— even before, from the first moment we’d met. I’d been a lonely girl, desperate for attention. I must have given him so little sport. I took another step. He stilled. Our bodies were almost touching now. I reached up and cupped his cheek with my hand. This time the flash of confusion on his face was impossible to miss. He held himself frozen, his only movement the steady rise and fall of his chest. Then, as if in concession, he let his eyes close. A line appeared between his brows. “It’s true,” I said softly. “You are stronger, wiser, infinite in experience.” I leaned forward and whispered, my lips brushing the shell of his ear. “But I am an apt pupil.”

"I feel like a starving child in the middle of the Sahara who has been given a SINGLE drop of water and which turned to sand before reaching my dry mouth. That how that scene made me feel. " Me too)) I WANT MORE DARKLINA SCENES!!! The chemistry! Seriously. Are these two not realizing how they keep flirting? How easily the Darkling just showed his jealousy? Oh my... Reaction

Oh Saints. This is too much and not enough at the same time.

"Basically this scene could either end with them making out or with Alina trying to kill him again XD They are that explosive ;)" I have a very acute feeling of deja vú. It kind of makes me think of the time Alina approached him in the church think with promises only to trying to kill him(and her in the process). that last sentence is so vague. I mean, a whole army could march on them or the Darkling could just kiss her. Guise, I am starting to think they won't end up together. It seems like Alina is just trying to get the upper hand like the Darkling did to her. SOMEONE CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE PLEASE I NEED IT SAY I AM SUPER WRONG : I wish I could, but I can't. I try not to hope too much, but secretly I still do fervently hope they will end up together. I reallly, really hope they do, but right now Alina can't trust him, even though she really wants to. I hope this scene is somewhere near the beginning of the book, so that there will be more time for their relationship to develop and for her to forgive him or at least understand.

Okay, this has to be their first interaction since what happened in S&S. (Which gives me even more feels because they are totally flirting) For starters, usually excerpts are taken from the beginning of the book. Two, this line sort of indicates it's their first encounter too:

“Why come to me now?” he asked. “Has it taken you this long to recover from our skirmish?” Also.. “I sought Morozova’s amplifiers for you, Alina, that we might rule as equals.” “You tried to take my power for your own.” “After you ran from me. After you chose—” He stopped, shrugged. Darkling is totes jelly. I mean if he's telling the truth, he's put a lot of time and effort into finding these amplifiers so that he can give them to the person he has waited for so they can be equals and rule together. LE SIGH. Still, the Darkling was hesitant because maybe he's learned better than to allow his heart to get involved. The one time he let his guard down, she leaves him. From his POV, that sucks. I saw a theory a long time ago that said the Darkling might have tried to take Alina's power because he was angry and jealous. I didn't believe it, but maybe that was a factor. It's interesting how he sees it though. He doesn't say "after you fled the palace" or "after you went off to find the stag." He sees it as: "after you ran from me." He definitely took what she did personally. Reaction

So true, WinterRose. It's like... The first time he's felt alive in several forevers, and he totally got jilted. He doesn't know what to do with his vulnerability. I think he's also so stunned by what she does because he believes he's doing something so great that he has no idea why anyone wouldn't want it. You know? Well said Xzellaz. Alina is quick to jump to conclusions. She did run off before finding out the truth. What's interesting is that Baghra said the Darkling planned on using Alina's powers from the start; he doesn't say it, but it's sort of implied he did it because he was upset/angry. And maybe it's a little of both. But when Alina brings it up, he's immediately defensive: "AFTER you left me, after you choose--" AKA after you chose to leave me, chose Mal, chose an ordinary life, chose to throw away everything I've worked hard to give you, etc. He feels just as betrayed as Alina did. I also agree that he deserves to be able to live. I hate how many characters who go through a redeeming arc die. Well said Xzellaz. Alina is quick to jump to conclusions. She did run off before finding out the truth. What's interesting is that Baghra said the Darkling planned on using Alina's powers from the start; he doesn't say it, but it's sort of implied he did it because he was upset/angry. And maybe it's a little of both. But when Alina brings it up, he's immediately defensive: "AFTER you left me, after you choose--" AKA after you chose to leave me, chose Mal, chose an ordinary life, chose to throw away everything I've worked hard to give you, etc. He feels just as betrayed as Alina did. I also agree that he deserves to be able to live. I hate how many characters who go through a redeeming arc die. Lol can we talk about how Alina basically scolds the Darkling for not visiting her? I mean, it's not like she tried to kill him or anything, lol. It just amuses me how she acts like she hates him, then turns around and wants to know why he isn't visiting her. (Random but I also think that excerpt showed a more human side than we've seen of the Darkling so far. He's also unraveling a bit. VERY obvious at this point that he has feelings for her.)

Lol can we talk about how Alina basically scolds the Darkling for not visiting her? I mean, it's not like she tried to kill him or anything, lol. It just amuses me how she acts like she hates him, then turns around and wants to know why he isn't visiting her. (Random but I also think that excerpt showed a more human side than we've seen of the Darkling so far. He's also unraveling a bit. VERY obvious at this point that he has feelings for her.) All that's true, but I'm not so sure we can totally trust baghra's words. She wanted Alina to get away from the darkling so of course she is going to tell Alina, when she knows the girl is crushing hard core, that he only wanted to use her. And maybe he DID just want to use her at first, but then surprised himself by truly falling for her. that was interesting!! The way she's almost flip-flopping in the Darkling's presence between wanting to hate him and wanting him. I think they both unravel each other a bit, but in this case Alina made sure she had the upper hand this time. I have high hopes for them uniting because right now they're both confused and unpredictable.

1. Apt pupil- My guess is that Alina is paying the Darkling a "visitation" of the same sort he used to in S&S. And he's quite impressed she figured out how to to it in such a short time. (She did the same with The Cut. She is an apt pupil, after all.

2. The purpose of this visit- As much as I'd love to think the purpose of this visit is a good old fashion booty call, Alina clearly has an agenda. "If that had been a mere skirmish, then we really were lost." I'm guessing "we" is her camp, whomever that may be and because they're in deep trouble she's decided to pay the Darkling a visit... either to get help or information.

3. "“I doubt it.”- The second time I read this, my jaw dropped. The Darkling is sooo floored and so out of his game, he misunderstands her. Of course, she doesn't mean that he would not have done the same for the people. She's plainly stating that she doubts he would have the guts to try to kill her. That's the whole point of her being there. Somehow, she's figured it out. She knows the Darkling has feelings for her and he couldn't kill her. She knows she's his weak spot and she's flaunting it in his face. (And he doesn't even notice!) That early in the conversation, you can tell she knows she's got the upper hand because she knows, she finally knows. I can't even... 4. "I wanted...I wanted...I wanted"- I don't know why but all of these in the past tense bother me. If this is all she wanted and doesn't want anymore.. What does she want then? Shippers don't kill me, but one thing is clear to me from this scene. The only reason she pulls this one off is because she doesn't feel, at least right then at there, what she used to feel for the Darkling. It's like she went from denial to nothing. Alina seems so detached and calculating in this scene that I don't know what to think. Also notice absence of Mal in her list of "wanteds." 5. Alina's recriminations sound a lot like those of part of the fandom. Just saying, it's nice to finally lay all of those to rest. She called him on it, she even laughed at him. It's quite shocking. 6. It's quite entertaining to notice they both have the same arguing style: evade something they don't want to answer by creating a diversion. She does it at the beginning of their conversation. He does it when she brings the topic of Genya and Bahgra, by calling her on her "weakness" for Mal and Nikolai. Unfortunately for the Darkling it backfires badly for him, because she's not ashamed... unlike him, perhaps. You can tell that was a low blow for him. He leaned on the window... I don't think he's trying to sexy, he's actually looking for support. (Oh God, my kingdom for his POV on this scene.) 7."Because you would be the strong one?"- Ah, this is the crux of the situation. Although the Darkling would like to rule with Alina, he doesn't know how to handle a relationship that's not based on his being in control. Hopefully after this conversation it will become clear to him how this is not what Alina wants in her guy. (Although now it does seem like she's the one who likes being in control... They're really very much alike, whether she likes it or not.) 8."I must have given him so little sport." Well now, that's a little unfair. It's interesting to see Alina really might think that because I'm pretty sure it's completely the other way around. I don't think the Darkling has ever had this much sport going after someone. This must be like the Olympics of Darkling courtship... or something. Which is, of course, part of the reason why he's going like a moth to the flame. (Let's hope not in the literal sense.) 9."Frozen," "stilled" I think she's right. He is scared of her, of what she means to him and of the fact that she did try to kill him and he's about to kiss her again. If he does, she wins. Which is why I'm not sure how this scene will play out. He is floored and undone, but he's not used to being vulnerable. I'm guessing he'll do something to try to make her see who's in control. flag * 1. Apt pupil- My guess is that Alina is paying the Darkling a "visitation" of the same sort he used to in S&S. And he's quite impressed she figured out how to to it in such a short time. (She did the same with The Cut. She is an apt pupil, after all.) 2. The purpose of this visit- As much as I'd love to think the purpose of this visit is a good old fashion booty call, Alina clearly has an agenda. "If that had been a mere skirmish, then we really were lost." I'm guessing "we" is her camp, whomever that may be and because they're in deep trouble she's decided to pay the Darkling a visit... either to get help or information. 3. "“I doubt it.”- The second time I read this, my jaw dropped. The Darkling is sooo floored and so out of his game, he misunderstands her. Of course, she doesn't mean that he would not have done the same for the people. She's plainly stating that she doubts he would have the guts to try to kill her. That's the whole point of her being there. Somehow, she's figured it out. She knows the Darkling has feelings for her and he couldn't kill her. She knows she's his weak spot and she's flaunting it in his face. (And he doesn't even notice!) That early in the conversation, you can tell she knows she's got the upper hand because she knows, she finally knows. I can't even... 4. "I wanted...I wanted...I wanted"- I don't know why but all of these in the past tense bother me. If this is all she wanted and doesn't want anymore.. What does she want then? Shippers don't kill me, but one thing is clear to me from this scene. The only reason she pulls this one off is because she doesn't feel, at least right then at there, what she used to feel for the Darkling. It's like she went from denial to nothing. Alina seems so detached and calculating in this scene that I don't know what to think. Also notice absence of Mal in her list of "wanteds." 5. Alina's recriminations sound a lot like those of part of the fandom. Just saying, it's nice to finally lay all of those to rest. She called him on it, she even laughed at him. It's quite shocking. 6. It's quite entertaining to notice they both have the same arguing style: evade something they don't want to answer by creating a diversion. She does it at the beginning of their conversation. He does it when she brings the topic of Genya and Bahgra, by calling her on her "weakness" for Mal and Nikolai. Unfortunately for the Darkling it backfires badly for him, because she's not ashamed... unlike him, perhaps. You can tell that was a low blow for him. He leaned on the window... I don't think he's trying to sexy, he's actually looking for support. (Oh God, my kingdom for his POV on this scene.) 7."Because you would be the strong one?"- Ah, this is the crux of the situation. Although the Darkling would like to rule with Alina, he doesn't know how to handle a relationship that's not based on his being in control. Hopefully after this conversation it will become clear to him how this is not what Alina wants in her guy. (Although now it does seem like she's the one who likes being in control... They're really very much alike, whether she likes it or not.) 8."I must have given him so little sport." Well now, that's a little unfair. It's interesting to see Alina really might think that because I'm pretty sure it's completely the other way around. I don't think the Darkling has ever had this much sport going after someone. This must be like the Olympics of Darkling courtship... or something. Which is, of course, part of the reason why he's going like a moth to the flame. (Let's hope not in the literal sense.) 9."Frozen," "stilled" I think she's right. He is scared of her, of what she means to him and of the fact that she did try to kill him and he's about to kiss her again. If he does, she wins. Which is why I'm not sure how this scene will play out. He is floored and undone, but he's not used to being vulnerable. I'm guessing he'll do something to try to make her see who's in control. He is scared of her, of what she means to him and of the fact that she did try to kill him and he's about to kiss her again." He definitely showed his biggest fear in this scene and Alina calls him out. He's not afraid of the bond they share because of the power; he's afraid because he's fallen for her and that's completely changing his perfectly calculated plans. He doesn't WANT to love her but he does. He NEVER stilled or froze in the first two books. Isn't it funny that it's after she nearly killed him that he's become so unhinged? I think he truly means it when he says he respected her after that. That respect might have tipped his feelings for her even more.

Think he realized he was growing too attached to her for his own good? And that's why he stopped going to her? He would have recovered strength wise if months had passed. (Or maybe he just didn't feel the need to visit someone who wanted to kill him lol.) What's even more interesting to me though is that she wants to know why he stopped coming to see her even though she had just tried to kill him.

That's an interesting part of the conversation. I think Alina is playing on his feelings, really. She's saying exactly what she knows will undo him. So I dunno if she's tapping into her own feels, because she seems to be over it even as she say it. It's hard not to notice that. My guess is they did share something at that time. During his visitations they did get to be near each other in a way that neither thought possible. It was creepy but also his version of sweet I guess. He would console her when she cried, walk with her, etc). I guess it's the closest they've both have been to a relationship. Just cuz I'm lazy and I don't know if you would go back up to read through my edits... "I brought up those two ideas because... Alina not telling Mal about the visits was what I think the biggest miscommunication problem they had that resulted (eventually) in their fractured state. Also, it's fairly obvious that the Darkling spent a lot of time out of his conquering plans just to visit her. And since Alina often makes quick assumptions, I don't think his visits were just to scar her like the nichevo'ya bite that she thought was out of spite and so she 'would always wear his mark.'" However, the bite is something else. It makes Alina "immune" to volchra and the "nothings" because they see her as one of them. So it's protection. Also, it makes Alina see them and perhaps the Darkling in a new light: her monsters. I think he wanted to share a bit of his nature, to protect her and if this makes sense, to make her love him. I say she makes an army of whatever and bites him too. Then we all live happily ever after ;P That's a very good theory and if it's true that just hurts my heart. lol I can't remember and I don't have my book handy, but after the bite, do we know if the nothings can harm her? Or would they not want to? Maybe he did it because, while he's willing to fight her army/people, he does not want her harmed/killed. Idk why but that just makes me sad. lol I don't have the book here but I'm pretty sure that's the case. I think he mostly did it not so much because of the volchra but because of the "nothings." I wonder, when he did it, if he was thinking of protecting her from the "nothings" in general, because he knew what they were capable of, being a new kind of magic or if he was really protecting her from himself, because he knows what he's capable of when he's angry. I've always wondered if he just saw her stubbornness and decided on the spot "better do this now than be sorry later."

Alina bites the Darkling? ahahahaha very amusing! would love to see that! but then, actually I think that Alina is crazy too. The way she kept hiding the Darkling's visits in s&s... I mean that time they're on a mission to kill him and survive his any possible raid. But if the Darkling has been visiting them like that, I know he also notices Alina's situation everytime he visits her, so it should be dangerous for Alina's team, right? but she doesn't really concern about this. Then, also the factshe keeps having feeling for him even until now in R&R.... truly an apt pupil, huh?

Well, I think after he captured Alina and Mal the first time. That scene to me pretty much plays out like the jealous lover. He calls her to his tent and insists that they have a discussion as if she owed him an explanation for running away with Mal. Remember that thing he does, when he kisses her and grabs her face and makes her tell him how much she loves Mal? And then she wasn't planning on kissing him back but her "treacherous heart" made her? (I mean, she could have explained it in a number of ways, but it was her heart... so, you know, that's as much as you're going to get from Alina in terms of feels.) That is my favorite scene from S&B. It even has Ivan smirking as he takes her to the tent, as in "Oh you're in for it." And she goes in and the Darkling has been drinking. And it sort of plays out like a soap opera, but to me that's the exact moment in the book when he realized, unfortunately for him, it wasn't only lust. I think the fact that he had been drinking was quite telling. He struck me as someone who would avoid drinking very much, so that his guard would not be compromised. Then you have Alina entering the tent, and he can't even look at her, too busy staring into the flames after hours of no doubt, endless brooding. :P (Ivan..I miss the idiot.) "Remember that thing he does, when he kisses her and grabs her face and makes her tell him how much she loves Mal?" Oh yeah. Then I think Alina explains his expression turned into longing. (I don't know if he longed for her to think that way about him or what.) “Why come to me now?” he asked. “Has it taken you this long to recover from our skirmish?” He almost says this like he expected her sooner. Like he expected her to come (despite you know, trying to kill him). I don't even know with these two. They both seem to hate how much they care for the other. Alina might still be in denial about it, but the Darkling is not hiding it as well anymore. Agreed. At that point in the book he's very proper, calmed and collected. In that scene, he totally loses his cool and I love it. I also love the fact that Alina gets angry at him and wants to actually hit him to the point Ivan has to physically remove her from the tent. I mean, and that was when she "feared" him. That scene is just perfect for me.

The Darkling better get his shit together, lol. He's a hot mess I swear. Maybe Alina's plan will backfire though, like the Darkling's did. She'll try to play him but her feelings for him (which she denies) will resurface. They both really need to just acknowledge it. It's still there, despite everything they've done to each other.

She's obviously trying to get under his skin, but what will happen if he kisses her? Maybe part of her expects him to close himself off again. What if he doesn't and kisses her? (Hopefully they'll rip each other's clothes off and stop with this nonsense. lol) She thinks he's been toying with her from the start. But I don't think he did it as strongly as she's doing now. I think there's a difference in the party scene and this one. At the party, Alina was flustered, but it was passion and the heat of the moment. This is different because it's not the Darkling all hot and bothered. He's not on the verge of ripping clothes off despite my wishes, lmao. It's him giving in, conceding. Closing his eyes against her hand..that's a vulnerable move. You know what I mean though? I'd love it if they kissed and both let their guard down and allowed their connection to do its thing, just to see where it takes them. I bet both would see they don't have to be enemies, even if they don't end up together. The relationship between these two are definitely unique with the whole "I hate you but I love you","I'm afraid of you but I miss you so bad", and "stay away from me but I go mad if I don't see you" things, hahaha this could turn to hillarious situation if the certain side isn't the brooding but intimidating type. “I had a taste for you, once.” His head snapped up. He hadn’t expected that. Do you guys think he was so surprised because he didn't expect her to say something so bold, or because he might think the same thing she does about him: that she was playing with his emotions and the feelings were not real? : I think hé was surprised she admitted she had feelings for him maybe because no one except her never had true feelings for him, maybe no one never has loved him before. God thats sad I need a hug I think he can't believe she's being so bold and even more, he incredibly surprised she would feel anything for him. Ok, so I agree with you guys, the nickname is only going to happen in the bedroom, where we will never hear it. I can't even imagine the context for that conversation either. So I'm not even sure she'll repeat it. Or will she? (She will repeat it as they are in the middle of sexy times.) Well, you know, they should both try love for a change. See if it's better than what they've tried so far, namely finding creative ways to kill one another. (Although, yes, it's been mostly Alina in that department.) I'm just so nervous about his name. I hope I don't hate it, haha. I'm SO used to just calling him Darkling or the Darkling. But yes, I feel like I will need Alina to say it several times. Loudly. ;) when I told my friend about this sexy speculation, she misunderstood it by saying "45 days locked together? okay..." hahaha then I was like "oohh it could've been better, thou".. in that case, not only peace they managed to create but also an heir to Ravka lolol and when do you think she can call his name several times loudly? ;p Not when Meida..WHERE. Personally, I'm holding out for in the war room on the table of maps. Just knock them off. Or don't. (Okay I saw that in a Darklina fanart so I can't take the credit.) lol I can't even imagine what power their child will have... if they seriously consider to producer an heir well they can make out anywhere they like, WinterRose. But yeah I think on the table of maps would just add the irony, considering that Alina once formulated and discussed some strategies there to fight the Darkling hehe Oh wow, I never even considered but they both like maps. So that would be kind of rogh-mantic, right? XD But you know what? It has to be the bedroom. That bedroom of his with the dark atmosphere, the beautiful carved bed in which they have both slept but separately, the starry ceiling... I bet my life they would both forget their own names, in that bedroom. Which brings us to.... Where does Alina "visit" him in the excerpt?? Is he in the "Big Palace"? How sad is that? How wrong is that??? I mean, I wonder if she could choose were to visit her in S&S. She needs to visit him at the Little Palace. In his chambers and then we would come full circle!! (Even though I'm sure they'll be on their best behavior.) But still!

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