Welcome to the void of the Alien. Here you shall find drama mixed with stupidity and a dash of mild cursing. I have no idea how the void formed but all I know is I hold it dear to my empty chest cavity. Before we move further, here are a few things that will help you navigate in the void (I do know there is absolutely nothing in a void but this one is different):
I do not, on any basis, allow any kind of nonsense to happen inside the void. The ones who create these nonsenses such as transphobes, homophobes, etc will be executed without a second thought.
The void often runs without my current attention, that is, it runs in queue which will be intimated as “and that is my queue”.
You see, as a heartless alien sometimes my mind gets the best of my so there are a few times where...stupidity comes out which will be tagged as “sirisu’s stupidity”.
Just like I said above, I either think much or never think so there will be a lot of typos and speeches like an old grandma but I hope you will forgive that.
Terrible mood swings, current addictions and a bit of narcissism will most definitely accompany our journey.
And finally - Never, I repeat, never address the heartless alien (me) as adorable, cute, etc or you will be given a sweet hug.
Now, with the dramas, you shall also find writings confessing my undying love for fictional characters. To make the process of finding them easier, I’ve compiled it for you:
The Marauders era masterlist
The Golden trio era masterlist
Sadly, I'm no longer writing...
That's all! And remember, kids, there will always be a mystery at the end of it all.
[looking at people younger than me] you have your whole life ahead of you [looking at people older than me] you have your whole life ahead of you [looking at myself] its over
I feel so bad for the annoying women at work. Like I actually feel sick when we’re interacting and I feel the annoyance occurring in my brain like she really doesn’t mean to be this way and she just doesn’t want to feel alone or rejected. you can tell she’s experienced being an outsider everywhere she goes it’s only a matter of time. And it’s not cool chic or edgy but in the ugliest most desperate and dehumanizing way. They always start hopeful. they want to connect and they go searching for someone receptive to her so she can find her people but everyone turns away from her slowly and u hear it in her voice. It’s happening again. she starts hesitating to speak and when she does you hear a shaky child ending every sentence like it’s a question. Testing the waters to know if she’s wrong for even trying. And then I realize I took her smile for granted now that it’s gone.. I have to make it up to her I can’t let something like this continue. Life is so hard for people everywhere, so building a tolerance for being irritated is nothing in comparison especially if the reward is less pain and loneliness in the world I will always be the bestie you have my word
People who flinch at this or jump to hating on OP have never been completely honest with themselves and it shows. Like, you know this person. You've met this person. The under socialized outcast who everyone thinks is kinda annoying and weird, including you. People think that acknowledging their own annoyance towards someone who's essentially harmless is the same as killing someone and being ontologically bad. Like, as long as you don't shun that person you're good. Actually, that's exactly what OP is fucking talking about. They acknowledge and see that this woman is the way she is and also express sympathy, but because there's no over the top performative moralizing everyone thinks it's mean when it's just a true assessment of the situation. Like, two things can be true at once—yes, this person is annoying and they make me cringe and yes, I'm not gonna be an asshole about it because I know that's not right. I have a sneaking suspicion that the reason everyone got so fired up about this is because they're scared that they might've been the annoying coworker in someone else's story. And guess what you probably were. Yeah. Sit with that. Did you die? Did the discomfort kill you?
A/N- Seriously considering of making up a posting schedule especially for this fic given how much I tend to forget my ongoing wips but okay we'll see lol. As of right now, the workload's much less so I've been writing a significant amount. But it's only a matter of time before life and responsibilities start kicking my butt again so we shall see
Let me know if you’d like to be added or removed from the taglist!
Ch-6 ~The calm before the storm~
~Anaya~
“We’re done here,” Kaz announced. “I’ll send word to each of you after I find us a ship, but be ready to sail by tomorrow night.”
“So soon?” Inej asked.
“The Kerch guests leave tomorrow morning,” explained Anaya. “So we’ll need to be behind them”.
“You’ll be leaving with us?” asked Inej.
“For most of the journey, yes,” said Anaya.
She could tell that Inej had many more questions for her, but they would have to wait until later.
The gears of Anaya’s mind had already begun to turn. This crew was, of course, not her best option, but it was her only option as of right now. So she’d have to make do.
Though as for what she was asking of them, she was lucky she’d gotten a crew at all.
As for right now, she needed to head back to the Embassy and update her own crew.
There was much to be done.
“Keep Wylan out of trouble,” Kaz told Jesper as he dismissed them.
“Why me?”
“You’re unlucky enough to be in my line of sight, and I don’t want any sudden reconciliations between father and son before we set sail.”
“You don’t need to worry about that,” said Wylan.
“I worry about everything, merchling. That’s why I’m still alive. And you can keep an eye on Jesper, too.”
“On me?” Jesper said indignantly.
Kaz slid a blackwood panel aside and unlocked the safe hidden behind it. “Yes, you.” He counted out four slender stacks of kruge and handed one over to Jesper. “This is for bullets, not bets. Wylan, make sure his feet don’t mysteriously find their way into a gambling den on his way to buy ammunition, understood?”
“I don’t need a nursemaid,” Jesper snapped.
“More like a chaperone, but if you want him to wash your nappies and tuck you in at night, that’s your business.” He ignored Jesper’s stung expression and handed kruge to Wylan for explosives and to Nina.
“Stock up for the journey only,” he said. “If this works the way I think it will, we’re going to have to enter the Ice Court empty-handed.”
“I’ll need you to get cold weather gear,” Kaz told Inej. “There’s a shop on the Wijnstraat that supplies trappers, start there.”
“You think to approach from the north?” asked Helvar.
Kaz nodded. “The Djerholm harbour is crawling with customs agents, and I’m going to bet they’ll be tightening security during your big party.”
“It isn’t a party.”
“It sounds like a party,” said Jesper.
“It isn’t supposed to be a party,” Helvar amended sullenly.
“What are we going to do with him?” Nina asked, nodding at Matthias.
Anaya eyed the girl. She hadn’t spent enough time with her back at Ravka to get to know her. That wasn’t her area of expertise. But she had the sense that the girl and the Fjerdan were chewing up on some big history. For now, she just needed to focus on keeping the two from killing each other.
“For the moment, he stays here at the Crow Club. I want you dredging your memory for details, Helvar. Wylan and Jesper will join you later. We’ll keep this parlour closed. If anyone playing in the main hall asks, tell them there’s a private game going on,” announced Kaz.
“We have to sleep here?” asked Jesper. “I have things I need to see to at the Slat.”
“You’ll manage,” Kaz said. He turned to the rest of them. “Not a word to anyone. No one is to know you’re leaving Kerch. You’re working with me on a job at a country house outside the city. That’s all.”
“Are you going to tell us anything else about your miraculous plan?” Nina asked.
“On the boat. The less you know, the less you can talk.”
“And you’re leaving Helvar unshackled?”
“Can you behave?” Kaz asked the Fjerdan.
His eyes looked murder, but he nodded.
“We’ll be locking this room up tight and posting a guard.”
Inej considered the Fjerdan. “Maybe two.”
“Post Dirix and Rotty, but don’t give them too many details. They’ll sail out with us, and I can fill them in later. And Wylan, you and I are going to have a chat. I want to know everything about your father’s trading company.”
Wylan shrugged. “I don’t know anything about it. He doesn’t include me in those discussions.”
“You’re telling me you’ve never snooped around his office? Looked through his documents?”
“No,” Wylan said, his chin jutting out slightly.
“What did I tell you?” Jesper said cheerfully as he headed through the door. “Useless.”
Slowly, all of them began to file out of the parlour. Anaya passed a glance to Kaz before leaving after Jesper.
She stopped outside the parlour. And then saw Inej step outside.
For a moment, Jesper and Inej stood in front of her, with Wylan passing a confused glance to all of them.
“So…” Anaya began.
“It’s really you,” said Inej, relaxing her features.
“It’s really me,” Anaya slowly lifted her shoulders.
Jesper took a step forward. “Just to be clear, I wouldn’t be hanged for hugging Ravka’s Councillor, would I?”.
Anaya beamed, “You wouldn’t be hanged for hugging your friend.”
Both Jesper and Inej crossed the path in two strides and had their arms around her in an instant. Anaya hugged them back in an instant, feeling a sense of relief she hadn’t in a long while.
When they pulled away, Inej looked her up and down and said, “Saints, you’ve changed so much.”
Anaya fixed her sleeve, “Well it’s mostly the effects of tailoring so you know,” she shrugged. “I wouldn’t be recognized on the streets.”
Inej rolled her eyes, “I know that,” she smiled. “I meant…overall.” A faint look passed over her features.
Anaya understood. “Yeah, well,” she sighed. “A year and a half of fighting in a civil war kinda does that to you,” she pursed her lips.
“When your letters stopped coming, we were so worried,” Jesper admitted, looking down at his feet.
Anaya felt a pang of guilt in her chest.
“Yeah, life got very messy afterwards, you have no idea,” she quietly shook her head.
Jesper nodded once.
“But hey when I heard who they made Ravka’s new head of council I knew it was you,” he quickly turned back to her.
“Oh please,” Inej rolled her eyes. “He was in denial, I was the one who knew it would be you.” she said, earning a fake wounded look from Jesper.
Anaya chuckled. “I missed you both,” she admitted with a fond smile.
Jesper stepped forward with a smile on his face, “We missed you too,”.
Anaya opened her mouth to speak, but was disrupted by Nina clearing her throat.
“I’m sorry, what exactly…is going on here?”. Her and the boy, Wylan stood at the corner of the alley, both looking equally confused.
“A heartfelt reunion?” suggested Inej.
“Of the most remarkable trio in all of Ketterdam.” Jesper boasted. “Read the room, Nina.”
Nina passed a confused glance to the boy, Wylan .
“You two…are friends with Councillor Nasrazeen?” she asked.
“More like partners in crime,” suggested Anaya and refused to elaborate further.
“We’ll walk with you to the Embassy” announced Jesper before looping his arm through Anaya’s.
The three of them began walking.
“What about us?” asked Wylan from behind them.
“Just walk with us,” said Jesper, rolling his eyes.
Anaya turned back to Inej and Jesper, “So tell me what’s new? Any gossip? Drama?”.
“Oh like you wouldn’t believe,” gasped Inej.
“Anika and Pim got together,” said Jesper.
“No way!” Anaya exclaimed.
“Oh yes way,” Jesper beamed.
“Ay what about you?” Anaya turned to him. “Did you meet someone?” she flashed a grin.
“He would if only he didn't spend so much of his time gambling or sulking,” Inej rolled her eyes.
“Wha- I don’t sulk!” Jesper pouted. “I’m simply waiting for the great love of my life to come along,” He shrugged.
Anaya rolled her eyes and slowly shook her head in dismay.
“What about you, Nej?” she turned to her. Then, lowered her voice and asked, "I take it Kaz is still…an idiot?”
“Afraid so,” Inej pursed her lips.
“Enough about us, what have you been up to?” asked Jesper. “Any great romances?” He raised his eyebrows repeatedly.
Anaya rolled her eyes, “A- no” she shook her head. “It’s- that’s not really my…” she slowly lifted a shoulder. “Area of expertise”
“Plus I have much on my hands already, you know? I don’t have the kind of time for that.” She clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“Oh hard disagree,” Jesper shook his head. “There’s always time for a great romance.” He waved his hands dramatically.
Anaya rolled her eyes, chuckling.
The walk to the embassy was shorter than she had expected. And when they turned to the last street before the embassy, Anaya turned to the crew. “I’m afraid I’ll have to go the rest of the way alone.”
Jesper and Inej looked disheartened but agreed and walked away.
Anaya looked at the path ahead. There was still a long way to go, but for now, she was glad to be back with her friends.
*****
They'd all gathered in the common area. Vilenka, Elvira, the rest of the grisha and the first army soldiers.
They all sat around the table with Anaya sitting in front of them.
"You know that all of you will be leaving tomorrow morning on our ship, the same course as the Kerch Councilmen." she explained.
She leaned back in her seat, "Now you already know what the plan is and what each and every one of you are expected to do,".
She looked up to see their anticipating faces. "But you also know the danger you'll all be putting yourselves in."
"We're going into the territory, and not just any place- the biggest and most secure prison of a country that's been our enemy for decades." She explained. "The whole thing has a very real possibility for being a setup, an ambush, or…they might have a far worse fate planned for all of us."
Fear passed creped into the room like a living, breathing thing.
"And if- saints' forbid, something is to happen to all of us.." She looked down at her hands, holding them steady. She looked back up at them , "There's no one coming to save us."
The gravity of the situation began to settle in like a heavy burden on all of them.
Anaya took in a breath, "That's why, tonight is the last moment any of you have."
The room grew eager once again, wondering what she meant.
"Should any of you wish to back out, now is the time." She forced herself to meet their gaze. "You can remain in Ketterdam until the rest of us return. Or even go back home. It's up to you."
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "because from tomorrow, there will be no turning back. Not for any of us." She quietly shook her head.
"Even our people back home don't know all the details of this mission- not the triumvirate, not even..." She sighed. "Not even King Nikolai."
"So you will not be questioned, won't be forced to return or accompany me.”
"That's all."She exhaled.
The room was quiet for a moment, and for a while, it was difficult for Anaya to tell what any of them were thinking.
Until Vilenka spoke up, "With all due respect Councillor," She began. "I know the risks of this mission. You've made it very clear from the first day you came to me." she said. "But I will stay, and I will go into Fjerda. Because if that's what it takes for me to be able to save my country, I will do it." She straightened her back.
"Me too," said Viktor, one of the Grisha. "We did not come all this way to back out now."
"I'll be accompanying you, as well." added Elvira.
A row of agreements came from everyone.
Anaya stood up, pride clear as daylight on her features. "Alright then" she folded her hands behind her back. "Let's go over the plan once again then."
For the first time in a long while, she felt hopeful. Because this time, she wasn’t alone.
Reading tfota series and somebody give the girl some rest every two pages she has a new knife stuck in her. With the amount of blood she's losing every page I fear her heart is pumping air.
you folks know that Cardan was wrong to assume it was as easy as Jude deciding to pardon herself, right? you know that while she could SAY she'd pardoned herself, that wouldn't be much help when all the guards know her to be an exile and would kill her if they saw her in Elfhame, right? you read the part of the book where Cardan admits the plan was rushed and that he didn't fully understand what banishing her would do to her? you get that when she crashed that party trying to prevent an assassination, all the fae around her automatically assumed SHE was the assassin and there to exact revenge on Cardan for her exile? you understand she's only the queen in a tangible way politically once HE tells people she's his wife, because mortals can lie and nobody believes her about their marriage otherwise? the fact she could technically pardon herself comes up early into Queen of Nothing, but she would still have had to sneak to get anywhere in Elfhame since nobody but Cardan knew she could pardon herself, guards and Bomb and Roach included, and her only path to being acknowledged would include sneaking into the palace on high alert for her, where she would have to track down Cardan, the guy who banished her in the first place and whose motives she has no clue about. like, she's not an idiot, Jude knows what her options are and from her perspective there's little reason to think Cardan wanted her to pardon herself without his letters
