day 9: candle. for this theme I chose the chapel scene (one of the best of the second part of shadow and bones, despite some themes treated a little hastily which oversimplify the relationship between kaz and inej *or so it seemed to me*) a scene with a suffused atmosphere, surrounded by candles, a place where the two characters expose their fragilities despite some quick passages. the lack of two brothers, one who can return and one who cannot. the desire to have something more and the fear that this is not enough, the need for love, the fragility that this feeling entails but also the ability to let go of those you love. (personally I didn't appreciate Inej's choice, although I understood the meaning, at least as regards the search for her brother, less so as regards Kaz since he had already laid himself bare for her but never mind) a scene where every feeling felt it can be represented as a candle that can be extinguished with a breath of wind but at the same time defeats the darkness with its small light. oh one more thing: the actors are simply magnificent!
day 10: bottle. at the beginning I wanted to create something related to Kanej, but it seemed a bit obvious to me (also I used this couple for other themes) so I remembered that in the TV series when Wylan and Jesper meet again after their first meeting (I still can't say whether I liked the fact that they already went to bed before falling in love or not (more no than yes, to be honest) Jesper, curious, starts touching Wylan's bottles and he warns him not to do so. it's such a sweet but also funny scene that I wanted to re-propose it. how much I love this couple (and how much I liked the first part of this season! the second more no than yes to be honest. it loses its luster.. rushed and strange. let's hope for the spin of even if I have little hope)
day 7. leaves. as always my work follows a metaphor and this time it's Matthias' turn: he always had only one purpose in life (both in the TV series and in the books) and that was to be an excellent druskelle to avenge his family and to make his mentor proud. he gave his whole life to this purpose, he really believed in it, to the point of bordering on fanaticism (more in the book). when he loses everything he finds himself like a leaf in the wind, confused, alone, far from home and from everything that is sacred to him. His people have a sacred tree in the center of the ice court where the druskelle take some sort of test to prove they are worthy. Matthias was the best but after Hellgate and Nina he feels lost, no longer worthy, a leaf detached from his tree...
They take walks sometimes. Languid, lazy things. Just a few moments to appreciate how peaceful life can be when you're not faced with a constant war that you can't escape. Other times are swift, jostling things. At the markets and shops. Learning the unseen, unknown nooks and crannies of a new place. Exploring whatever there is to be offered.
Matthias prefers the ones where they're off the beaten path, not surrounded by people and all the noise that they create. He likes the peace and quiet, or more specifically, he likes having Nina all to himself (not in a serial killer sort of way). He likes the reassurance that no one is about to take her away from him or that any moment they could enter some forbbiden territory and have to revert to fighting for their lives, there's been enough of that.
Nina walks beside him, humming a soothing melody that's tinged in childhood, he'll remember to ask her later, unwilling as he is to disturb the moment.
Sunlight flits through the leaves above them, sending rainbow of colors cascading around. Oranges, reds, and greens. This autumn is as picturesque as a scene on a postcard, with its cool breezes, bountiful harvest and bright warm colors.
It's so much more preferable over Fjerda's early snows and Kerch's unrelenting rain showers. Perhaps they return again for it next year, if not for another visit but to avoid the unsavory alternatives.
"We should head back soon, before it gets too late."
Matthias murmurs his assent, wondering if he can discover away to put a lock on time so he can relax like this a little longer. But returning before dusk is probably for the better seeing as how they aren't exactly prepared to face a night in the forest (he has a rifle of course, and Nina, but that's more for if they accidently run into a bear)
He threads their fingers together as they turn around, a gesture that seems less forward here in Ravka and is practically a handshake in Kerch. He's sure that someday he'll grow used to being so open with his affections in a way that's so blatantly obvious.
Nina rambles about her hopes for dinner, insisting the Zoya better pull out all the stops after they travelled all the way here just to see her. How it doesn't matter if she's queen or not she should be a good host for her best friend and use those royal coffers to have something tasty.
"But mostly I'll be happy as long as it's not that crap we had to eat at the Little Palace."
Matthias smiles. Even back then Nina believed that if they were being forced to serve in the country's armed forces they might as well have splurged a little on food so that their soldiers good have a decent meal before being sent to the slaughter.
Traveling around, tasting all the different dishes that were offered had only proved to her that every second spent eating should be a second worth enjoying.
"I'm sure it will be as delicious as last night."
Nina smiles, a dazzling thing, "one can hope."
Matthias is resigning himself to the fact that diner is bound to be another boisterous affair (between Nikolai and Nina there's alot to deal with), when they reach the gate.
"Matty, look."
He's not sure what he's looking at until Nina points enthusiastically to a shaded area next to the gate post.
Someone, a castle servant, has raked up all the leaves near the castle's lower walls and piled them under an oak.
"Let's go," and then she's pulling him, yanking on his arm, to the tree, before he has the chance to even ask what's so exciting.
At the trunk she let's go and starts climbing when the realization of what she's planning to do, finally, dawns him.
"Nina. No."
She grins down at him, "Matty, come on, have some fun for once."
Before he can protest anymore, she gives him a saucy little wave from the lower branches, and leaps down.
Leaves explode from the pile, a brilliant burst of color flying into the air, one of them landing in his hair, another skimming his cheek.
And then Nina. Sitting in the middle of the chaos, laughing like a child. Her face lifted to the sky watching the way they float down like feather. Crowning her head like she's the queen of the forest. She's always been so beautiful.
He knows for certain then. The thing that his heart has always known. The thing that his brain need a while to catch up to. That for her, whether it's off a cliff or into a pile a leaves, he'd take the plunge. (Like he hasn't fallen already)
Sometimes it's hard to know whether the skills that you've adapted to survive are something to be proud of or not. If they've allowed you to keep going shouldn't they be seen as a badge of honor rather than a mark of shame.
Inej often walks that delicate balance between the two never able to decide which side to fall to if she'd ever lost her footing. The choice will be made later, after she's had enough time to make a proper decision, but for now she lets her newfound skills shine.
Her family can't seem to believe that these abilities she's gained with a knife are real and not some sort of trick. As performers they all know quite well that seeing and believing are two very different things.
Inej hits the target, marked on the trunk of a tree, again and again. One blade after another, slice into the bullseye, until the bark in the center has all been chipped away, and her collection falls to the ground with a clang.
Her parents, cousins, the whole family, take a collective pause before bursting into applause. Her uncle (a former knife thrower) gives her a pat on the back for her dexterity. Her cousin Miri asks with bright eyes if she can teach her how to do that (at 8 years old Inej is inclined to say no).
Everyone appears to take this new talent of hers in stride not questioning the reasons behind it or where it was learned and refined. The adults not wanting to turn the conversation to something unpleasant and untouchable, and the children only knowing the Inej was 'away' and not the circumstances that led to her being gone for so long.
Inej knows that the story is probably something they'd want to know, they don't refrain from letting her talk about her trauma but they don't ask either (save simple 'how are you' interactions). Inej can't blame them, she doesn't, they're there when she needs them but they still don't try to force it, it's something she has grown to appreciate, especially on the rarer growing bad days.
They might not ask for the story, but she can't help but watch it replay in her mind with every throw.
Kaz's dark attic room, an over cast sky, training dummies on the far end, bright splotches of red where their hearts would be.
"If you're going to make yourself useful to me, you need to be able to protect yourself when the time comes."
When he first pressed the handle into her palm she flinched, steeled herself, and tried to focus.
"Think as though its and extension of yourself."
Inej grips it better, making it comfortable in her hold, he doesn't correct her, so it must be sufficent.
"Put the weight behind it when you release."
He circles behind her to correct her stance, fear rises in her throat, being unable to see him, but she's the one holding the knife, and that helps.
"Bend your wrist. Like this."
He stands besides her, curling his own small blade toward his arm. She doesn't know whether him not touching her is for Inej or himself, but a small part of her is grateful.
"Dominant leg first."
She follows.
"Sight the target. Breath in. Pull back. Throw. Out."
She watches his every move filing it away, catalouging it, memorizing. It hits the target, a little right of the center.
"Now you."
His instructions are meager, straight to the point, and somehow, all she needs. She visualizes and follows through. She hits the target almost dead on.
Kaz seems relieved at this, or maybe angry, she can't read his expressions, not yet anyway. But the practice continues, and for the most of it she is near perfect. A natural.
He eyes her as their session ends, calculating something in those cold eyes of his.
day 5: spicy. in the book, when inej is in the industrial area of ketterdam at a certain point she sees an advertisement for spices depicted by two suli girls with a costume very similar to hers when she worked in the brothel and she thinks back to her years there and how her skin was praised as a precious commodity. in that moment she thinks back to how she has always been seen as an exotic commodity, something to buy and then throw away. so I chose to represent inej and her memory of her years at the menagerie (obviously using the screencaps of the show the material is limited)
day 6: heart. I immediately thought of a work on Nina and Matthias but I decided to put them in another theme (which one? Surprise) therefore, remembering Shu Han's part of the TV series (controversial for me as it is really strange and very far from the original works but nevertheless full of interesting ideas) I decided to use the heart theme referring to the beautiful declaration on love made by the saint of Shu Han. they are wonderful words, the synthesis of love and the looks between kaz and inej and everything they feel for each other and the thousand unspoken words between them that are simply expressed in their looks deserve the scene. After all, love starts from the heart...
The cobbled streets of Kerch's capitol city were quiet-ish in the earlier light of the dawn. Revelers from the previous night of activities on 5th howled and shouted drunken praise of some nonsense or other as they stumbled toward their lodgings. Messengers from other parts of the city scrambled quickly in between the few roving carriages in a weak attempt to trek the streets of the barrel before falling victim to any number of criminals.
Matthias walked unencumbered by such a fear. He didn't trust anyone in the vicinity as far as he could throw them, but being in the presence of Barrel royalty afford him some kind of security.
Matthias was not particulary fond of having breakfast (or any other meal for that matter) with Kaz Brekker, but Nina for unknown reasons actually seemed to like spending time with the bastard. Or, more specifically his "non"- girlfriend.
It was understandable, Matthias liked Inej in his own sort of quiet way. She was nothing like her silent, brooding conterpart, she for example, actually had morals and common sense.
The four them walked along slowly, with the sort of sluggishness that comes when you haven't drank you first cup of coffee yet. Brekker leading them to some hole-in-the-wall resturant that would allow the some sense of privacy.
That was the trouble associating with gang members, you couldn't go anywhere too high profile without some fraternity of spies hovering around you trying to plot your demise.
They rounded another corner, walked no more then ten feet before another sharp left into an alley ending in a sensible oak doorway.
Kaz opened the door and waited for the girls to enter before, pettily, in Matthias' opinion, he let go of it to walk in himself. Matthias let out a sigh making a grab for the edge of it before it swung closed.
It wasn't a large place by any means, the dining area could probably fit maybe twenty people. But it was clean and snug and the aromas drifting from the kitchen made his stomach rumble quietly.
A man approached asking about seating and whether or not anyone else would be joining them. Nina answered in that normal self assured manner of hers in a quirk that would have made him smile if wasn't so tired.
They were lead to a booth in the back, that Matthias appreciated because then at least if he fell asleep none of the other costumers (a whole three people) could judge him.
He scooted into the left side of the booth, Nina close behind, then he watched, weary, Inej and Kaz enter the other. Nina snuggled close to his side, resting her head lightly on his shoulder. He leaned in to supress his small smile against the crown of her head. This was something he would never quite grow use to.
Matthias made himself comfortable, reaching out for a glass of waiter had brought as soon as they'd seated themselves. He thanked Nina as she passed him the small breakfast menu and began browsing the choices.
Nina put down her menu almost as soon as she'd picked it up, as if she'd only been checking for something she'd already decided on, on the way there. Inej and Kaz took a few minutes, Kaz looking like he was calculating the pros and cons of each item against their worth in Kruge, Inej merely appearing as though she couldn't decide. Matthias let his flicker of the still strange Kerch alphabet before deciding it would just be easier to order the same as Nina. (He had a habit of losing his appetite around Brekker anyway)
The waiter returned taking their orders in a neat, measured tone before informing them of their call number that would alert them to the readiness of their meals that they could recieve at the counter in the front.
Kaz asked, surprisingly polite that a pot of coffee be brought to the table. The waiter nodded and scurried back to the kitchen to relay the request to the other staff members before hurrying back to seat a new pair of arrivals.
Matthias watched silently as Nina and Inej chatted quitely, exchanging adventures at sea and tiffs someone (Nina) had iniated in both Fjerda and Ravka. Then his eyes drifted to Brekker.
He'd barely spoken all morning, he rarely did until he'd had at least some caffine but he seemed unusually quiet today. Matthias saw the way the other man gazed toward Inej, he doubted anyone missed such a look, but it seemed to grow more longing each time he and Nina returned.
His attention broke at the calling of their number (7) from the counter, he moved to rise but Nina pushed him back down and pecked his cheek before getting up herself. She crooked a commanding finger at Kaz and stood unwithering under his glare until he got to his feet.
"Be right back."
Inej waited until they were positioned at the counter arguing with the kitchen staff about what he didn't know, to speak up.
"It's nice," he looked over at her, "the way you two are together."
Matthias felt his heart skip at the mention of him and Nina, he still didn't really believe it all wasn't a dream.
"It is." He felt hesitant before continuing, "You and Brekker could be that way. We all know how you feel about one another."
Inej followed his gaze to where Nina and Kaz had transitioned from arguing with the unfortunate members of the kitchen to argue with one another. They really did act like siblings sometimes.
"We...we aren't there yet. We still have some things to work on first. You shouldn't be with someone unless you're certain you're ready, and I don't know that I am...not yet."
Matthias nodded. He understood the hesitation between the two of them, both had lost much and they still had some healing to do first, but still.
"It must hurt to want but to know your better apart for now."
Inej gave him a weak grin, "yes but it is for the best."
"He will wait for you. I may not know him well but he will. His heart calls to yours."
The smile that graced her features was utterly authentic, "Sirds ir bulta. Tas prasa mērķi nolaisties patiesi. *1 As mine does to his."
The pair quieted as their friends approached, arms laden with food.
"How hard do you think it is to make a simple pot of coffee Kaz?"
"Bold words from someone who can't even make a glass of water."
"At least know how to make a glass of water."
The two of them continued bickering back and forth until Nina gave up so she could eat her breakfast. Kaz despite having won by forfeit seemed moody, but seemed much more content when Inej prodded him gently with a cup of coffee.
Though their intimate interactions were certainly limited each one felt weighted, a delicate tower of brick that had the potential to be inspiring.
Matthias couldn't help looking at Nina and feel at peace knowing he could rest easily knowing she held his own heart.
~~~~
*1 Latvian translation of the line "The heart is an arrow. It demands aim to land true." From Six of Crows
I wanted to use Romani but the internet wouldn't cooperate so I improvised
And for those you wondering where our two remaining Crows are out, they're at the Van Eck country house visting Alys and Wylan's little sister for the week
Here's the prompt list for the third edition of Crowtober! 💜
This is a Six of Crows inspired prompt list. Every form of art is welcome. Just have fun!
Starts the 1st of October!
Remember to tag @crowtoberchallenge and #crowtober2023 so I can share your post!
[This is a challenge to draw any character from the Six of Crows duology, but feel free to draw any other character from the Grishaverse if you feel like it!]
Happy Halloween from our Inej Sparrow! 🎃 👻🏴☠️
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Still working at the other prompt, crypt are going to take me insane but I will end it I promise!
Day 30 of #crowtober2022 : Pirate! 🏴☠️ aarrr!!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! 🎃 This year the Crows decided to dress up as ghosts and go 'trick or treating' around Ketterdam (or maybe it's just Kaz’s plan to commit some robberies?) 👻👻
Blade for #crowtober2022 day 18: my first draw of Inej after seeing the series and read the books (it was love at first sight of course) with some little modified!
