G.safin X Z. Nazyalensky - Tumblr Posts

queenofdarkestshadows​:

Those marvelously blue eyes, that just a moment ago was furious, gleamed with satisfaction from the flattery. ❝Ugh.. ❞ The raven haired girl let out an over exaggerated breath. ❝..very well, I shall bless you the view more often, then. What is one more sacrifice for such poor, poor soul as you, Genya.❞ Zoya said as she turned around to face the mirror at the vanity table. There was no mark of a scar, but the grisha girl could swear her lips has changed a colour slightly - they seemed a bit more dull pink. ❝Wicked.❞ She said, rolling her eyes, as she stood up, turning back at the redhead, her expression mischievous. ❝I do not share the secrets of my wild adventures.❞

Genya grinned. Didn’t even try to deny it. ❛ Guilty as charged. ❜ She said, soothing her corporalki red kefta with dark blue embroideries, which she had acquired since the king had fallen ill. ❛ Consider this punishment for disturbing my conversation with David. ❜ She tossed her flaming red hair over shoulder, not commenting on the sacrifice part. She had had her revenge and that was all that mattered in the end. Sure, Alina was missing but the Darkling would find her and bring her home and everything would be okay. At least, that was what she was telling herself to fall asleep at night. Her amber eyes narrowed in curiosity. ❛ Unless those wild adventures of yours are something to be proud of. In that case, you’d be babbling out all around. ❜

queenofdarkestshadows​:

❝I am proud of EVERYTHING I do, and never babble things out. I have plenty of secrets to keep, I would not be in such high favor it I did not. ❞ The grisha girl said, tilting her head high. She had that manner of speaking down to people, as if she was above them.Obviously she wad not planning to admit a newbie student get a lucky aim at her in the training. ❝I was hardly disturbing David, more freeing him from YOUR babbling. I seriously don’t get why you even bother. That man is not gonna share you a second glace unless you will suddenly turn into some kind of machine.❞ She brushed her hands over her already perfectly smooth kefta. ❝Wearing red won’t change that.❞

❛ As if I wasn’t in high favor as well. Keeping secrets is what i do best. That and turning flaws into beauty. You’re welcome by the way. ❜ Genya stood proud and straight like a perfect soldier, waving the remarks off with a hand as if they were bullets bouncing off her kefta as she walked away. She stopped in the doorway, looking back at the girl. ❛ And what do you know when it comes to the matter of the heart, Zoya Nazyalensky? ❜  

queenofdarkestshadows​: 

Zoya set her jaw, her blue eyes fixing on Genya with that casually murderous glare, she loved to offer people around her. But it was gone as soon as it came, and she actually smiled at Genya. ❝I know how to use a heart and how to break one with my beauty..and not to be broken because of it. Maybe if you weren’t so naïve with your accomplishments you could learn a trick or two. ❞ The raven girl flickers her fingers, sending a light breeze of wind to ruffle her locks for an additional effect of her already mesmerising beauty.

Genya stood, silent, in the doorway. Oh, the redhead knew a lot about beauty and how to wield it as a weapon. She’d laced her lips, her skin with poison, feeding it to the king. The one who’d taken her innocence and so many nights of her life. But of course, Zoya and the other Grisha didn’t know the whole truth. The only knew her as the Queen’s pet and the King’s whore. The Darkling had been her only friend until David but, even then, David didn’t know the full extent of what went on behind closed doors. Alina had been a friend too ,more recently. Friends don’t lie to each other, said a little voice in her head. Don’t fool yourself. None of it was real. She shook her head, focusing on Zoya again. ❛ I’m not the fragile doll you’ve met years ago, Zoya. I’ve grown but, most of all, i’ve learned. You pride yourself for being his favorite but let me tell you something... No amount of power will get you his LOVE, darling. Love cannot be bought or taken. It is given, freely.❜     

queenofdarkestshadows​: 

Was that what she wanted? Darklin’s ‘love’? His approval, his appreciation…the honourable place by his side…but love? To be honest, she doubted she believed in such term at all, because from a place she came from love only made you spiteful, mean and broken. She would NEVER like to become her mother. ❝Love is for fools and beauty fades…power, however, is what keeps up going. I don’t seek his love, foolish Genya, I have plenty men to throw love around me. I am truthful to my country and I have proven myself enough to not be sold to be used as a weapon.❞ Zoya knew she was being unfairly harsh, but she was hurting and she wanted others to feel the same.

What was a bit unusual was that Zoya did not say she was truthful to her General…but to Ravka.

❛ I’m not as foolish as you think i am, Zoya. I know i’m a weapon. ❜ Genya said, meeting Zoya’s stormy orbs from across the room. We all are, she whispered inwardly. And the redhead thought she was done with the dark-haired beauty but something in her words had caught her attention. I’m truthful to my country, Zoya had said. Not to her General, not to the Darkling. To her country. Perhaps the squaller wasn’t such a lost cause after all. Perhaps she wasn’t as blinded by the Darkling’s charms as the rest of his protégés. Amber eyes narrowed, she crossed the room to the brunette, studying her with a newfound interest. ❛ I have underestimated you, Zoya Nazyalensky. ❜ She whispered, a smile playing about her red painted lips.    

queenofdarkestshadows​:

Zoya’s smug expression faltered for a moment, as Genya suddenly crossed the room back to her. She did not knew what reaction she expected from the other grisha girl…anger? annoyance? hurt? Anything but the curiosity and satisfaction that were all over her face.

The raven haired girl rised her eyebrow. ❝You realize that only now? I believed you to he wiser Safin.❞ Zoya said, trying to sound smug, but there was slight uncertainty in her voice. What did Genya saw? What walls had she let down?

She HAD to unsettle the mood to HER supremancy.

❝You are charming when you want, Genya, but you would still need to get in line like everyone else. I am all booked for breaking hearts for the next decade.❞ She flipped her locks to one side and winked at her.

Genya’s red lips had curled in a satisfied smile when Zoya’s smug expression had left her beautiful face. She’d take it as a personal victory. After all, not many people could brag about disrupting the great squaller. The redhead tilted her head to the side at the...compliment. Wow. This conversation was getting more and more satisfying. ❛ I’ve been known to be quite the patient woman. ❜ She said, quietly, twirling one of Zoya’s gorgeous lock with her index finger.   

queenofdarkestshadows​:

Zoya’s dark blue orbs followed the girls movements. Her expression reminded of a cat who acted all uninterested, then let its claws out when it’s least expected. ❝Well, I am not.❞ She grabbed Genya’s wrist, wrapping her fingers around it tightly.

❝I hate it when people are wasting my time. You are far from sobbing and pleading, so it’s quite disappointing, it’s also bad for my reputation, won’t you agree?❞ The grisha girl asked in exaggerated manner of a worry, that was far from truthful.

Genya studied Zoya’s features, carefully, trying to guess what was coming next. She was eager to see what the great squaller’s next move would be. The redhead gasped as soon as the brunette snatched her wrist. Startled by the sudden movement and the strength of her grasp. The tailor had quickly regained her usual composure though. ❛ Well, i’m not holding you back. ❜ she countered with a smile, amber eyes glancing to Zoya’s tight grip. ❛ In fact, by the looks of it, it seems you’re the one keeping me here. ❜ she added, ambers meeting the other grisha’s stunning stormy orbs. 

queenofdarkestshadows​:

❝You are not just vain, but delusional as well, that is a pity. One more useless grisha potential.❞ Zoya was harsh, but was she honest? That was a secret she would prefer to keep to herself. She did not let her hand to immediately, after small hesitation, she let the hand drop down. Her blue eyes losing interest in this conversation. ❝I am holding no one. I have better thing to do anyway. I’m leaving tonight.❞ She mentioned the last part as a matter of fact, as if it was nothing out of usual. Zoya came and went a lot, but since all the happenings of Sun Summoner she was lingering around more, since Darkling did not give her a new assignment…not till today.

❝Try not to cry yourself to sleep, dear Genya. Not all of us can be so special.❞

Genya tilted her head to the other side, gazing at the brunette’s features as she held her wrist far longer than she’d expected. I’m leaving tonight, Zoya had said after she’d free her from her grasp. It sounded like she was talking about the weather. But Genya knew better. The redhead’s heart had skipped a beat. The Darkling is also leaving tonight. Could it be——  ❛ Did he found her? ❜ The urgency in the tailor’s voice would’ve stopped anyone dead in their tracks. She couldn’t have helped it. She cared about Alina. The girl had been so kind to her and, unlike Genya, Alina had been hundred pourcent genuine about it. As soon as the word came out of her mouth, she regretted them. Regretted to be a gentle heart in the middle of a war zone. As much as she was loyal to the Darkling, she still wished for Alina to have her freedom. No one deserved to be used as a weapon like the beauty had been since she was a child.    

queenofdarkestshadows​:

❝Her?❞ Zoya said in a venomous tone. Her blue eyes narrowed, watching emotions change on Genya’s face as quickly as the wind in the storm. Zoya’s own expression darkened and after a moment she recollected smiling at the tailor in a superior manner. ❝So it was true wasn’t it? He lost her? ❞ The raven haired girl sounded amused. ❝And here I thought he was tracking something actually valuable, what a disappointment.❞ In truth Zoya was mad the Darkling had left that piece of information out, but she was not going to show it. ❝I am not heading after any wrenches, I am have an important meeting with some sort of a Captain, if you must know. We have more serious tasks than to look for silly, lost girls.❞

❛ He didn’t lost her. ❜ Genya rectified, sharply, before glancing to the door, making sure no one was near to listen to this conversation. ❛ She got scared when she realized how big the task was and fled the palace. Being the savior of Ravka is a lot of pressure for a young girl. She’s only 17 and still so new to all this. ❜ A lie wrapped in truth. The redhead was a master in this art. The tailor wasn’t blind to how upset Zoya was that the Darkling had withheld such valuable information from her. She knew just how much the brunette longed for his approval and trust (everyone of his soldiers did, honestly), especially when it came to the fate of their country. Genya straightened as she face the squaller again, ambers locking gazes with stormy orbs. ❛ He didn’t want anyone to know, aside from the people actually looking for her right now, because if the news gets to the crown—— we’re screwed. So, i’m counting on you to keep your pretty mouth shut, alright? ❜ Then, she raised a brow, remembering the girl had said something about a captain.  ❛ Wait— Are you talking about Sturmhond? ❜  

queenofdarkestshadows​:

❝Of course he didn’t…he must have simply misplaced her.❞ Zoyas tone was mocking, her blue eyes amused at Genya’s quick reaction and defending Alina. She rolled her blue eyes as she leaned against the door frame, acting all bored and uninterested. When Genya finally stopped talking, Zoya took a pause before she finally spoke. ❝ Oh, are you done? Sorry I wasn’t paying attention once you started to ramble of our scared, whinnying Sun Summoner.❞ She shrugged, as if that was a normal reaction. Of course, in truth, she did memorize every single word Genya said and it only made her more annoyed she was out of the secret.

❝Scared girls have no place in a war. Maybe it’s time for Darkling to see that. ❞ She staightened up. ❝Well, yes. I believe that was his name. We have a more serious mission that look for little girls. Why are so surprised, jealous Safin? It must be exhausting to forever stay in the Palace and playing dress ups while the grownups actually do something important.❞

Genya frowned, hands on her hips, at Zoya’s bored look. She knew the girl was listening to her still so there was literally no point of acting this way. A good soldier knew when to shut up and listen. Especially listen and act like you didn’t bother nor deem the information of interest when in fact it was. A huge part of those war games started with unintentionally spilled information during daily conversations with people you thought you could trust. ❛Like it or not, Alina is needed for Ravka to prosper. ❜ The redhead replied before frowning as Zoya said the captain was indeed Sturmhond. Why would the Darkling work with a man like this? What was it that he needed from a bloody privateer? She rolled her eyes, trying to appear unhurt but Zoya’s last words had stung more than expected. ❛ I’m done playing dress-up. ❜ She said, her voice soft but confident. ❛ I’ve done my part for my people. ❜ She proudly smoothed her bright red kefta with her hands before looking up to the squaller. ❛ We all have our part to play, do we, dear Zoya? I have good faith in your abilities to get what we need from Sturmhond. ❜      

queenofdarkestshadows​:

Zoya lips curled up into a confident yet mischievous smile. ❝I most certainly will….❞ The raven haired girl walked over to Genya and leaned in to give her a half a hug, and kissing her cheek like some close friend would do at goodbye. If it wasn’t so dramatically played, it would almost be believable. ❝…but it won’t have anything to do with faith or believe. Me, getting what I want is seal deal from the begging. There is no man..or a woman born yet to refuse my wishes. ❞ She smiled pulling away.

❝Thank you.❞ She added at least pointing at her perfectly healed skin and winked at Genya before turning away and walking out of the room with full queen supreme attitude.

Genya stiffens as Zoya embraces her. To say the gesture stunned her is an understatement. A hug. Saints! She hasn’t gotten a real one since Nikolai left for the army years ago. He’d hugged her like he was scared he might break her while she hugged him like she could’ve crushed his bones as he promised he’d come back. He never did. She’d even learned of Dominik’s demise over letters. Now, the Lantsov was supposedly studying engineering at the University of Ketterdam. He didn’t bother to write so Genya had given up trying to reach him pretty quickly. Perhaps he wasn’t even there to begin with. Perhaps he’d gone off the rails like Vasily did, with kvas and games. War did change a man. It changed everyone. Even once sweet gentle Genya. Perhaps Nikolai had also forgotten they were once like siblings, perhaps he was still mad she’d fessed up to Vasily about him leaving the Palace to go see Dominik on his parents’ farm. The latter wouldn’t have been part of the First Army draft if he hadn’t been disgraced and barred from the Palace. He would still be alive. Maybe. Maybe not. You cannot be sure. What she was sure of though was that Little Genya didn’t mean to send Dominik to his death, she was just jealous and afraid to lose yet another brother. She knows it’s no use to feel guilty about it now and yet—— 

Once the shock is gone, she manages to pat Zoya’s back, awkwardly, feeling the heat rush to her pale cheeks. Saints, she whispers inwardly. She knows that Zoya did it on purpose, like she always does anything, but she cannot help but lean into it, into the touch, for a second. Then, Zoya pulls back and thanks her (another shocker). The once well-spoken redhead just has time to blurt out a ❛You’re welcome.❜ before the stormy eyes beauty ultimately leaves, leaving her there, completely bewildered by what has just gone down.

  David walks just a few moments after, giving her a concerned glance. She waves the matter off and they resume back to their unsuspected date where they mostly talk about everything else but how they truly feel about each other.

queenofdarkestshadows​:

❝Calm down? CALM DOWN? Who do you think you are to tell me to calm down. I demand to be explained what the hell happened!❞ Zoya rised her voice and her hands, summoning enough wind to throw the young grisha boy, that had the unfortunate to be the one welcome her back home, across the Little Palace’s hallway. By the crowd had gathered in, watching curiously and whispering rumors.

She finally had lost it. Did he welcomed her wrong? What did he say? Maybe she was not flattered enough? Is angry Darkling left without awaiting her? Didn’t she had some relatives in Novakribirsk?

The voiced collided with one another and in the fury and annoyance Zoya summoned wind storm that amplified her shouting of. ❝Shut up!❞ The room instantly falls silent.

The Second Army had lost its glory. All that was left of it were mere crumbs. They’d all heard of what had happened at Novokribirsk. Most hadn’t believed it at first but The Darkling's absence had screamed the ugly truth. He wasn’t the savior they had expected. As for Alina—— she had been presumed dead and many greedy merchants had been quick to sell her remains or at least that’s what they’d told believers of the Sun Saint. 

Genya had stayed at the Little Palace. It wasn’t like she had much else to go anyway. She had no family left, at least no blood relative that she’d actually wished to ever see again. Her Otkazat'sya mother had always been terrified of what she could do. The Darkling had been the first to value her gift, the first she had ever considered family. When he gifted her to the Queen, she felt betrayed but that betrayal had been quickly forgiven because little Genya could finally taste happiness. Her gift was celebrated by her new mother figure and she could eat all the sweets she wanted and played with puppies but, most of all, she had two brothers: Vasily and Nikolai. Her joy lasted only four years though. Now, it merely felt like a fever dream. Today, it seemed Vasily didn’t care about anything but kvas, horses and games. Except that now he was also King of Ravka since Alexander’s early death, which Genya might’ve been involved in. And Nikolai—— Well, he hadn’t come back after his military service like he’d promised to and hadn’t written back to her in years. Last she’d heard, he was studying engineering at the University of Ketterdam.

Zoya’s entrance had been quite the spectacle. More than usual, Genya noted. Now, the room was silent. Genya stood far behind the crowd, next to David who was nibbling on the toast he’d kept in his pocket. The toast had been freezing cold by now but it was better than nothing. It seemed dinner would be served much later judging by all the commotion the squaller was causing. He felt Genya leave his side. He saw waves of flaming red hair cut through the crowd. His eyes widened behind his glasses and he almost choked on his toast as he witnessed the redhead tackle Zoya with a hug. What an odd evening, he thought, pushing back his glasses with his index finger.

Genya hugged Zoya as tightly as she could, burying her face in her raven locks. She was insanely happy to see this familiar face, even though the girl had always been so rough with her. She couldn’t tell why exactly but there’d always been something comforting in the spades Zoya was throwing at her. ❛ I’m so glad you’re back… ❜ Genya whispered to her ear before leaning back to look at the dark-haired beauty’s face. ❛ Things have been absolute chaos! I’d hate to say this but——  We need you, Zoya. The Darkling’s gone and Alina, she—— ❜ The redhead’s voice broke as she spoke of her former friend. She took a deep breath and kept going. ❛ They say she died in the Fold. Vasi— The King is talking about dismantling the Second Army. They don’t trust us anymore. Lots of us have nowhere to go… If— If they do kick us out, we’ll be hunted down like in the old days. ❜