#volcralai

Aleksander first comes to believe his attempt to save Nikolai failed completely, only to learn his transformation just wasn't quite the same as other victims'. After a period of alternate waiting for the news of one of his people successfully slaying the unusual monster or another skiff falling prey to it, he figures the creature gained longevity (if not immortality) alongside claws and wings. Sometimes, when visiting Kribirsk, he can hear wails that sound too human for ordinary volcra.

Volcralai kept shadow of his conscience, but most of the time he's a wickedly clever bloodthirsty beast that proves to be quite a menace to skiffs attempting to cross, should he choose to attack. He can't stand direct sunlight, and anything less than total darkness of the Fold is unpleasant to him. He can sense a familiar presence near from time to time, drawing him closer to the edge of his home.

Nikolai's once-lover can't enter the Unsea, lest the volcra swarm in, tearing him to pieces. He can't leave it for the pain light causes him.

The Darkling's waiting for the Sun Summoner to come, so he can free his country from the Fold, but fears it, knowing its destruction will finally destroy what's left of his centuries-old companion. Kolya's bright mind is locked inside a killing machine, terrorizing the people he once loved, surviving much longer than he should've.

It's both as far as I know, and I prefer "Darkolina" (It's all there and it doesn't look too dumbed down.).

It's one of those ships I'm (all) for, depending on a day. Just like Darklina and Darkolai, it has its ifs, namely IF THEY WERE ALLOWED ACTUAL DEVELOPMENT.

Alina (as in other things) needs to discard her baggage- both mental and physical-, so we'd need to get rid of the Blade Boy, her idealisation of her miserable past, her prejudice and bias, mommy issues and insistence on keeping status quo. She'd basically need to re-write her whole personality to become a worthy (political) partner to the other two.

Nikolai is idealistic fool. He'd need to shed his blindness towards uncomfortable truths, especially regarding Grisha- no partner of Aleksander could ignore the slaughters like we've seen in S&S. He'd also need to find the spine he left on his ship. You can negotiate and persuade, but the monarch should also ORDER. And not just the serfs you're conveniently ignoring, when it comes to injustices they have to face.

Aleksander is ironically the easiest one. His greatest issue is "lack of care", which actually isn't present in any of the books, because not even Baghra's lives-long nagging managed to beat it out of him no matter what the narrative claims. He'd "just" need to get over her teachings about inconsequential lives of "the dust" and admit to himself that he does care even for specific mayflies and there's nothing wrong with it. Sure, he's gonna bite and kick and scream on his way there, but he's adaptive and his mommy's death might actually help.

Like- what's the point of making Nikolai into a volcra-hybrid, when the worst he does is eat some cows and fight, when they try to catch him? And why is ordinary hunger the only driving force?

How am I to believe he feels something for Zoya even in that form, when all he does is play with some ribbon and sniff her hair? Haven't you seen The Legend of Tarzan? Monkey-guy sees a girl he fancies, and goes for the pussy, and that's just being raised by animals. Have you ever seen a dog interested in a bitch? What's his first target area?!

Siege and Storm- Chapter 6 (Leigh Bardugo)

Grisha Nikolai would totally support Aleksander's research in merzost, especially if they already had the diaries to build on.

The Darkling likes to be around Nikolai's demon, because it's his unique creation.

Nikolai doesn't enjoy Aleksander's company at all, they're too different for it.

Aleksander doesn't like to pet the creature because it's one of few living beings openly affectionate with him.

Oh no, he can't!

Volcralai is the bestial, savage animal in him and ALL he wants now, is to fuck Zoya! I mean, he gives her Ravka, which he'd never do if his higher brain functions weren't overshadowed by some dark force...