𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏 ;

mikhailo looked upon his general, feeling the weight in the room build with each silence that pressed them. he had no emotion on his face, as aleksander most likely felt everything for the both of them at that moment. it was not an unusual thing for mikhailo to be level headed, only when he lashed out did everyone know things really weren’t well.

he leaned against the wall, nodding. “especially since we don’t know what it is,” he replied, folding his arms across his chest. “our people need to know things are being done about it, ensure we’re doing our best to ensure their safety, regardless if it’s not true. it looks worse when you’re silent about matters such as these.”

.  .  .  ♞.  .  .

it  was  like  having  a  brother  in  the  room  with  him  .  someone  aleksander  knew  he  could  trust  and  in  return  mikhailo  felt  as  though  he  could  trust  aleksander  .  but  aleks  was  holding  in  a  dark  secret  ,  and  if  it  was  to  be  relieved  everything  he  had  been  working  towards  would  be  ruined  .  

aleksander  nodded  ,  as  he  had  said  millions  of  times  before  .  “  okay  ,  ”  he  said  ,  even  if  he  didn’t  agree  with  the  man  in  front  of  him  .  “  but  you  have  to  write  it  up  ,  since  its  your  idea  .  ”

mikhailo knew that in moments like these, he was better off simply tending to other tasks. but he wouldn’t be aleksander’s right hand if he avoided all of the hard topics. it was his job to speak of these things, figure out what to do, help the general with decisions. mik knew what some of the other grisha thought– that he was like a lost puppy, following the general of the second army around hopelessly. the truth was that they’d never say these things to his face if they cared enough to keep their nose straight.

“i think,” he started, taking a small step inside the room. “it would make everyone else feel slightly better, were you to address the situation as soon as possible. even if it’s fake hope, they need to hear something before even more chaos erupts.”

.

𝐈𝐓   𝐖𝐀𝐒   odd   to   have   someone   see   him   at   his   worst   ,   his   lowest   point   .   it   had   been   .      .   .   months   even   years   since   aleksander   had   had   an   outburst   like   this   .   embarrassment   flooded   through   aleksander   .   his   shoulders   sank   .   this   .   .   .   position   was   too   much   at   times   .   this   was   one   of   those   times   .   and   in   truth   he   was   gateful   for   mikhailo’s   presences   ,   but   not   the   question   .   he   gripped   the   chair   once   more   before   turning   to   the   other   .   

he   was   defeated   ,   his   shoulders   slumped   .   one   could   tell   he   hadn’t   slept   in   days   .   aleksander   let   out   a   breath   .   should   he   ?   “   even   though   we   have   no   idea   what   that   .   .   .   thing   is   ?   ”   he   asked   .   “   everyone   knows   its   not   a   volcra   .   ”

thomas’ company was comforting. it wasn’t easy to stay all day looking at that thing, while yuliya knew her brother was finally with her again. she wanted nothing more than just let that thing rot and be forgotten — it was what it deserved, but the only reason she reunited with ilya was because of it. somehow, yuliya should be grateful to the “volcra”, but that idea was almost a sin. how could she find happiness within a monster that killed many and brought only despair ? she sighed, her mind everywhere but there. her fingers worked automatically, poking the black fresh of it. yuliya missed being around people, but the work on the infirmary demanded more and more healers. thomas’ voice startled her sightly, and yuliya turned to face them. “ what happened ? is everything alright ? ” everything wasn’t alright, and yuliya knew that. 

.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓   𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃   ?   thomas’   mind   reviewed   everything   that   has   happened   within   the   last   week   ,   saints   the   last   month   and   he   felt   his   eyes   water   more   .   but   finally   the   air   didn’t   feel   like   it   was   suffocating   him   ,   and   his   lungs   accepted   the   oxygen   .   they   dropped   their   arm   ,   wiping   away   the   liquid   from   their   cheekbones   .   

they   tried   to   laugh   it   off   .   “   i   think   my   lungs   thought   air   was   foreign   for   a   moment   ,   ”   he   stood   ,   side   stepping   to   stretch   his   arms   before   they   once   more   looked   down   to   the   .   .   .   creature   .   

𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐓𝐖𝐎  sat  side  by  side  .  thomas’  finger’s  covered  in  black  .  it  had  been  hours  of  poking  the  .  .  .  the  thing  .  he  ,  finally  ,  sat  back  .  after  hours  of  ignoring  his  body  it  had  become  a  dull  ache  but  now  moving  every  nerve  in  his  back  and  arms  screamed  .  even  their  bum  was  asleep  .  their  tailbone  waking  up  sent  a  tingle  up  their  spine  ,  only  adding  to  the  pain  .  but  what  was  worst  of  all  was  the  smell  ,  it  seemed  moving  reminded  his  nose  that  it  could  smell  .  he  gasped  ,  coughing  covering  his  mouth  with  the  corner  of  his  arm  .  the  air  felt  like  fire  as  it  went  into  his  body  .  “  fucking  -  hell  ,  ”  he  gasped  out  .  

at this point in their friendship, mikhailo had grown used to aleksander’s outbursts and his all around intimidating aura. he had learned not to take it personally, especially when he was stressed. mikhailo sometimes pitied the weight on his shoulders, the job of being the general of the second army.

mikhailo stood at the entrance of the door, hands clasped behind his back. no emotion crossed his face nor his voice, the qualities of a good soldier. a good soldier. to mikhailo, that’s about all he amounted to. “do you know any more than the rest of us about what that was?” he asked, his tone not accusatory, nor harsh, simply point-blank.

. . . 

𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐊𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑’𝐒  𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒  were  tensed  up  ,  his  knuckles  turning  white  as  snow  .  saints  how  he  wished  throwing  stuff  and  breaking  stuff  would  help  something  other  than  his  boiling  anger  .  his  teeth  gritted  together  ,  he  was  a  failure  to  all  the  grisha  in  these  moments  .  they  were  his  people  ,  he  was  suppose  to  protect  them  but  in  those  moments  of  darkness  he  had  been  just  as  lost  and  they  are  .  

aleksander  looked  from  a  spot  on  his  desk  to  his  second  in  command  .  “  what  do  you  think  ?  ”  he  asked  quietly  .

the sacha in the middle of battle was very different from the usual sacha. this sacha was more muted, focused, and somber. that’s what he had to be to survive. perhaps unexpected, sacha was an expert in adapting. his eyes were on alert, his body tense and ready to jump into action at any point. he shook his head at aleksander’s question. “negative. only sign i got was the first screams.” 

. . .

𝐈𝐓  𝐖𝐀𝐒  weird  to  see  the  two  in  such  a  different  way  than  normal  .  the  man  in  front  of  him  brought  out  the  joking  and  light  hearted  side  of  aleksander  .  but  now  they  both  wore  somber  expressions  .  but  as  was  most  of  the  basement  --  most  looking  to  aleksander  .

aleksander’s  breath  was  shaky  as  he  blew  out  .  but  it  still  felt  as  though  little  air  was  going  to  his  lungs  .  “  what  the  fuck  is  this  ?  ”  he  whispered  ,  pinching  the  bridge  of  his  nose  .  “i  dont  -  i  don’t  know  how  to  kill  these  .  .  .  things  .  ”

fear lives in her.   not inherently of her brother but of what grows,  deep and festering.   her hands twist,  a soft exhale leaving her lungs.   it feels like there is a thousand terrible things it could be,  a million terrifying things it could have been.   she steps to him,  wrapping herself around of him in an embrace.   “ —you wish.   i’m not that easy to get rid of. ”

“ it’s okay,  i’m okay.   i assume you’re okay too?   and irina? ”   her voice softens,  settling down within her own body.   a calmness overwhelming her;  the safety of her brothers arms.

.

𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐊𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑  𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃  feel  the  lost  of  control  within  his  soul  --  or  rather  what  was  left  of  his  soul  .  it  was  like  sand  through  his  fingers  ,  if  only  clutching  his  fist  would  help  .  it  seem  everyone  was  now  against  him  ,  or  making  things  worst  .  he  took  a  deep  breath  ,  his  poster  straightening  as  he  did  so  .  stopping  the  pity  part  in  its  tracks  (  for  the  most  part  )  .  

he  laughed  --  it  was  a  nervous  laugh  ,  because  no  .  he  doesn’t  wish  .  and  that’s  his  fault  .  

he  stiffens  for  a  moment  ,  he  should  be  used  to  the  movement  ,  and  maybe  he  was  .  but  still  the  general  did  not  think  he  was  worry  of  much  .  finally  he  rested  his  cheek  against  the  top  of  her  head  and  wrapped  his  arms  around  her  .  he  didn’t  say  it  often  .  “  i  love  you  ,  ”    he  whispered  softly  .  “  it  would  take  more  than  an  ambush  to  take  down  irina  .  ”

thomas › introduction

thomas › isms

thomas › visual

thomas › threads

. . . 

aleksander › introduction

aleksander › isms

aleksander › visual

𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝     𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜     𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢     𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗     𝚜𝚑𝚎     𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚜     𝚑𝚎𝚛     𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎     at     thomas’     side     /     there’s     something     about     twins     ,     the     way     they     know     each     other     like     the     BACKS     of     their     own     hands     .     jagged     edges     perfectly     matched     :     he     𝑆𝑂𝑂𝑇𝐻𝐸𝑆     her     temper     ,     she     brings     him     out     of     his     shell     .     even     now     ,     when     there’s     a     tempest     storming     just     underneath     skin     ,     he     manages     to     tug     her     off     the     brink     of     an     explosion     most     imminent     .

❝          𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚢     ,     𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢'𝚟𝚎     𝚐𝚘𝚝     𝚞𝚜     𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐     𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎     𝚍𝚘𝚐𝚜     ,     like     we’re     new     to     the     whole     thing     .          ❞          a     roll     of     vibrant     hues     ,     punctuated     by     a     thoroughly     undignified     snort     .          ❝          i     might’ve     set     a     few     trouser     legs     alight     .          ❞

.

𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐒  𝐖𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃  if  it  was  the  twin  bond  that  kept  them  together  .  or  was  this  a  saint’s  way  of  telling  the  two  they  still  needed  each  other  even  after  all  this  time  ?  maybe  they  still  had  something  to  learn  from  each  other  .  thomas  most  likely  how  to  be  more  extroverted  and  his  sister  on  how  to  be  more  patient  .  .  .  or  something  of  the  like  .  that  thought  alone  sent  a  smile  to  thomas’  dry  lips  .  they  were  perfect  together  ,  but  the  moment  one  of  them  left  .  .  .  it  was  like  they  were  a  shell  of  themselves  .  the  saints  truly  made  them  best  friends  from  the  start  .  and  they  wondered  how  he  could  every  repay  them  .  

thomas  nodded  .  she  had  been  gone  a  lot  ,  making  the  house  feel  even  more  .  .  .  empty  and  big  .  they  were  happy  they  had  come  home  .  he  didn’t  understand  ,  training  .  thomas  might  look  fit  with  their  long  limbs  but  he  was  far  from  it  .  the  fat  that  was  gathering  on  his  stomach  or  how  if  he  sped  walked  anywhere  he  was  winded  by  the  end  of  it  .  maybe  they  did  need  to  join  their  sister  .  “  oh  natalya  ,  ”  thomas  laughed  ,  picturing  it  all  within  their  mind  .  “  was  there  a  tidemaker  around  at  least  ?  ”

maksimilian studied the person standing in front of him, the posture, the words that left their lips and even while a look of understanding passed on his features, he briefly pondered to ask if they were in need of a healer, only to realize that he was already in the presence of one.

the chaos that had erupted has affected many and killed several more, maksimilian was doing fine, however the realization of how bad it had hit some other people was now just appearing in human form, a very exhausted and messy human being.

while the fabrikator usually did not care that much, he could not help but ask, “what happened to you?”

.

𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐒  𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐃  on  his  feet  ,  it  was  more  from  his  feet  starting  to  ache  than  anything  else  .  his  eyes  seemed  far  away  ,  his  blue  eyes  cloudy  with  the  war  they  felt  deep  within  themselves  .  

the  question  didn’t  surprise  him  ,  even  ,  a  short  laugh  come  from  their  lips  .  he  felt  as  though  he  had  aged  fifty  years  within  the  last  few  months  .  what  didn’t  happened  to  him  and  his  family  ?  a  wife  missing  ,  people  thinking  it  was  him  who  did  something  to  her  ,  his  sister  just  being  herself  and  now  this  .  thomas  just  needed  sleep  ,  but  it  never  needed  him  .  “  a  lack  of  sleep  will  make  you  look  just  as  fabulous  as  i  do  in  this  moment  ,  ”  he  replied  ,  trying  to  keep  the  conversation  light  hearted  .  

they waited catastrophe,  the falling of empires.   a heaving darkness that sought ravka like a magnet.   but love keeps you alive and she,  a dark eyed doe stared and startled.   she was grief sickened,  a tragedy born in a woman.   you are alone in this world.   there is no one like you.   expect for him.   her head turned to the sound of her name,  sun caught on her jawline & she caught her brother — the face a reflection of her own.

“ —alek? ”   her voice sweet,  a smile curling to her cheeks.   “ —- is something wrong?   or is this a good visit? ”

.

𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐊𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑’𝐒  𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐒  knitted  together  .  why  did  she  greet  him  as  so  ?  within  the  last  few  months  aleksander  had  not  come  to  his  sister  for  anything  other  than  to  ask  her  how  she  was  fairing  ,  and  if  anyone  was  being  rude  to  her  in  anyway  .  everyone  knew  what  happened  if  they  offended  or  hurt  his  sister  in  anyway  .  death  .  he  cleared  his  throat  .

Yelena   stood   back   up,   as   a   gust   of   wind—no   doubt   summoned   by   the   person   now   before   her—gathered   the   pages   up   and   away   from   her   reach.   She   turned   to   them,   her   brows   furrowed,   and   shrugged.   “And   I   don’t   remember   doing   so,”   she   responded.   Yelena   made   her   way   forward,   towards   a   nearby   table,   to   set   the   book   away   from   further   damage.   “It   was   simply   a   fair   warning,”   she   continued,   smiling   now,   as   she   faced   them   again—although,   no   warmth   could   be   traced   from   it.   “You   know   as   well   as   I   do   that   tensions   around   this   place   have   flown   past   the   skies.   A   mere   squeak   of   a   mouse   could   easily   set   some   of   us   off.   I,   at   least,   won’t   count   it   out,”   she   said,   her   tone   indicating   that   she   was   only   joking.   “Thanks,   anyway,   for   the   help.   And   I   apologize,”   she   said,   sincerely,   “I   didn’t   intend   on   disturbing   anyone.”  

.

𝐎𝐍𝐄  𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓  spoke  in  riddles  .  beatrix  could  already  feel  a  headache  forming  in  the  front  of  her  head  .  yes  because  beatrix  had  truly  snuck  up  on  them  ,  and  the  other  lose  their  emotion  and  beatrix  had  been  blamed  for  the  outburst  .  but  .  beatrix  held  their  tongue  ,  their  eyes  on  the  papers  ,  reading  the  old  ravken  .  it  was  a  bundle  of  words  ,  most  likely  confusing    beatrix  because  their  contents  were  out  of  order  .  

beatrix  looked  up  ,  nodding  .  “  i  think  we’re  all  jumping  since  the  attack  ,  ”  the  said  ,  handing  back  the  papers  .  “  i  wasn’t  disturbed  ,  if  anything  you  saved  me  from  a  daydream  of  a  time  in  my  life  i  try  to  forget  .  so  ,  truly  ,  i  should  be  thanking  you  .  ”

𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆  of  glass  echoed  off  aleksander’s  stone  walls  .  it  had  been  years  since  the  grisha  had  thrown  something  out  of  frustration  .  god  it  was  livid  ,  tired  ,  worried  ,  he  was  feeling  every  emotion  .  finally  he  turned  ,  gripping  the  back  of  a  chair  .  he  was  breathing  ,  or  well  .  trying  to  breathe  .  he  was  starting  to  see  less  red  .  his  head  snapped  up  at  the  knock  .  “  what  ?  ”  he  snapped  .

everybody's  lookin'  for  a  come  up,  and  they  wanna  know  what  you're  about me  in  the  middle  with  the  one  i'm  lovin',  we're  just  tryna  figure  everything  out

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍   𝐖𝐀𝐒   the   last   time   aleksander   had   seen   his   sister   ?   he   had   been   so   focused   on   irina   ,   getting   them   safe   ,   holding   them   in   his   arms   he   had   totally   forgotten   to   check   on   his   sister   .   he   asked   one   of   his   spies   ,   mumbling   to   them   as   he   sat   before   the   grisha   ,   his   food   untouched   .   they   disappeared   and   came   back   within   twenty   minutes   saying   she   was   out   on   the   grounds   .   

aleksander   stood   ,   too   focused   to   remind   the   grisha   he   didn’t   wish   for   them   to   stand   when   he   stood   ,   and   fled   the   dinning   hall   .   looking   for   his   sister   ,   once   she   was   within   his   sight   he   called   out   .   “      elisaveta   !   ”   he   called   .