#alina.

[undivinelys]

                    “    it's    a    simple    question    ,    is    she    a    better    fuck    than    me    ?    ”

[begsfora]

[pasdefleursarch]

i'm stupid about that post i can't find about how in the absence of alina, mal continues to refer to her by her name. alina. whereas in the absence of alina, aleksandr refers to her as my sun summoner or the sun summoner, which really goes to tell you all you need to know about the difference in how they each perceive her and why the darkling is v scummy.

[kyliexc]

” you know, i know i shouldn’t be sad or feel anything but i have to say this. “ she slurred between words, leaning back against the couch she was sitting on, holding her half full cup - which would be maybe her 5th glass of alcohol. kylie didn’t know how it got to this point, but there she was wasted at alina’s and spouting nonsense. “ i fucking hate guys, and relationships, and fucking people. i really do. “

[pasdefleursarch]

i personally do not vibe w the show take that zoya hated alina bc she is half shu ( *scream* ) bc even though zoya harbors internalized racism on account of being half-suli + witnessing racism the suli had to endure ( from her own mother, from others ) thus wanting to distance herself from her heritage to better fit in in ravka… i highly doubt alina is the only biracial or non-ravkan grisha at the little palace, so it doesn’t really make sense for zoya to zero in on her for that reason alone ( and to be so aggressive about it, too. )

( a case can be made for this, tbh, and i acknowledge that. it really depends upon the portrayal [and everyone's is valid], this is simply something i don't want to include in mine. my zoya discriminates upon alina, but not because she's biracial, but because she's otkaza'sya. )

the basis of zoya’s animosity is simply that. alina is a newcomer and already she has ascended the ranks, has secured a coveted spot beside the darkling without even truly proving herself yet ( in zoya’s opinion. ) zoya had to work hard to be where she’s at. from age nine, she had to grow up quickly and adapt and become the very best at what she does, only for her place to be usurped by some unknown mapmaker from keramzin. of course she’s upset. she’s being pushed aside, replaced, lumped in with everyone else when she is stellar, impressive, cut above the rest with her skills. suddenly, alina comes along and it feels like her progress is undone.

also, re: the darkling… man. does zoya love him? yeah, the way you love a leader, someone who you feel has lifted you from the bog of common existence and into something better. the way you love someone who you feel has saved your life somehow by giving you a purpose. if there’s any “attraction” for the darkling on zoya’s end, i doubt it’s genuine attraction toward him as a person and perhaps more of an attraction toward him and this persona he’s curated for the grisha to see, which is all that zoya knows (and also, attraction for his power. zoya is that bitch. ) anyway, she did want a share of that glory ( headcanon incoming about how zoya has always felt used as a kid/valued only for trivial qualities, and she wants to secure a place in a world that will cement the fact that she is capable, that she is more than just the value assigned to her by her looks ) which is why she gravitated toward the darkling. i highly, highly doubt it goes any deeper than that, or that she has engaged in anything physical or romantic with him.

[kyliexc]

it had been awhile since kylie had some sort of peace - if you could call any part of her life to be peaceful. whatever, it was a mess and she just wanted things to be chill. nice. something. which is why she decided to text alina earlier, wanting to be around someone who was a lot more calmer than she was. “ so, what do you think about earrings ? because i’m completely in the mood to buy tonnes of those. “ she joked casually when walking next to the blonde, her eyes scanning the places they passed by along the street. 

[undivinelys]

                    “    last    time    i    checked    you    didn't    own    me    ,    so    why    do    you    think    it's    okay    to    tell    me    what    i    can    or    not    do    ?    ”