#summonshadows

[demolitionsman]

@summonshadows​ asked: “My, what have we here?”

Wylan couldn’t help the small whimper that escaped him as the darkling approached. “Nothing. There’s nothing here.”

[valkxrie]

@summonshadows

The party was waning. Only a handful of hours remained before the sun came up and the day started anew. The revelry had left the official confines of the palace some hours before and had spilled into the sprawling gardens, its rows of hedges a maze to the partier and the maze a welcome bit of shadow for a handful of couples. 

Brunnhilde sipped a glass of wine and watched the ladies in their gowns and the men in their various suits. Midgard. She was there frequently, but rarely got to enjoy time among its people. She felt an odd kinship for them. Some had a beautiful magic; something that could have come from visitors from Vanaheim, Alfheim, or Asgard long ago. Or, something that had grown in them naturally. Wherever it came from; stars or earth, it was there. 

And, that was why she was there too. She and her sisters - Valkyrie whose wings remained furled as they walked, looking human, as they slipped into the palace party. A pack of party-crashers, the lot of them. Their real visit would unfold the next day, but for those few hours... for those hours they could dance. These people were so self-absorbed they would not notice much more than their own gossip. Narcissism ran thick in this court. Even with this new “Fold” looming as a threat to their world; this great unknown that even Odin could not see into, this thing that was so significant that the Valkyrie were dispatched to query about it. It was an issue for them to not be able to see the fallen that cried for them. It was an issue that Odin’s All-Sight could not pierce. This shadow. This power. This thing filled with creatures that split the land like a wound. Even with that - there was a summer party. 

The Valkyrie had winged their eyes with gold and wore simple gowns in the fashion of the time. Summer-wear, in soft colours. Lighter than battle makeup, more breathable than their ceremonial armour. Their hair was pinned back easily, swept off faces but left loose. Not pulled tight. Not braided and locked into place. Brunnhilde smiled over her cup as her sisters danced with the humans to a tune played by a lone, drunk fiddler. The last musician standing at that late hour. The women were lithe and fit and filled with laughter - and no one seemed to notice that they were the Valkyrie of myths long since unuttered in that land. 

Others were watching too. Brunnhilde caught a dark eye across the dancers. They were lit only by the fires that ringed the garden, so all she could see was the cut of his suit and the shape of his gaze. Both were sharp. Tailored. Powerful, even. A shadow that seemed to hum. That seemed to know exactly where to look. She raised her glass quietly to him; anonymous watchers at a party attended by many who wished to be anything except anonymous. 

Before he could reply, she was interrupted by a bright face. Hildr - a warrior. A friend. She spoke brightly, revealing a light and musical accent. Foreign. Northern. Hildr had no dance partner, and no one other than Brunnhilde would do. Both were barefoot in the grass a moment later, lips stained with wine that they had downed to fast, dancing a dance that was not made by courts but simply by the summer night. 

[gccdstories]

@summonshadows / *

𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐒, Zoya's attention falls down to the way his thumb brushes over the top of her hand. She smiles. She's not simpering little schoolgirl, of course she isn't. But he has this way of making her feel... so many things. Things she'd never thought to feel ever.

Not since coming here. Not since vowing to be the very best, and prove herself as one of them. A true Grisha.

Her family (most of it anyway) could rot for all she cared.

❝ Thank you. For not pitying me. For challenging me. ❞ It's something she's always felt, but never said. Her gratitude for all he's done for her. ❝ You took me in, and you trained me. You made me realize-- ❞ Oh he made her realize so much. But she blushes a little as she says it, ducks her head down, before steeling her nerves and looking back in that soul-drowning dark gaze of his.

❝ I didn't think there was a place for me, after my family. I didn't think-- But you made this place my home. Even if the others don't like me, I'm glad... I mean, I'm glad to be here. ❞

She'd rather here than anywhere else.

[moonshinaes]

— friends with benefits — sentence starters

in her eyes, it seemed like the nicest thing anyone could ever say to her --- although, given their current situation, she wants to say no, just because they're not attached to each other in any romantic way. as domino sits upward, leaning her back against the headboard, finding the perfect words to say no or even refuse his kindness, she gives him a look before taking a deep breath; then exhaling. "that's nice of you," she goes, complete and casual, normal, like any person would say if they were casually sleeping with someone and not having a romantic inclined relationship with, something they both agreed on. nonetheless, she can't seem to question if he's harbored any feelings for her --- plus, if he did, it wouldn't be something to talk about, deeming it taboo between the both of them. "i'll stay, just for tonight. i'll be gone in the morning, so breakfast is definitely off the table." she tells him along with a soft chuckle, her lips forming into a gentle smile. / @summonshadows​

[upwardstrokes]

RELATIONSHIP GIFSET: Aleksander & Evie ( @summonshadows ) 

[novinare]

@summonshadows // nina & aleksander

"When I get my hands on them, I'm going to show them how cold you can be and still survive."

The threat would have sounded more intimidating, had Nina's teeth not been chattering. And had her wrists not been manacled apart, half frozen in the back of a Fjerdan cart.

It was obvious the cart had been made for this express purpose. Normal carts weren't reinforced with steel beams, or have manacles hanging from the roof.

The Drüskelle had turned this slaving business into an art, they knew exactly what they were doing. And two Grisha-- even when one of them was the head of the Second Army-- could only fight off so many when they'd been taken by surprise.

Nina's head was still pounding where one of their blasted bola had struck, and she could feel the dry blood tugging whenever she moved her head.

Working so close to the Fjerdan border had always been dangerous, but there had been a slow trickle of Grisha trying to escape to safety, and someone had to find out what was happening. Nina had been the obvious choice. And it had been going fine until Litvinov, Topolsky, and that weaselly little Igor Slonimski, had betrayed them.

Gritting her teeth against the chattering, her whole body shivering, Nina continued trying to work her hand free of the manacles.

[dynastymusesarch]

@summonshadows cont from here {{&&alina/darkling}}

alina wanted to tell him that he didn't have to be brave for her, that he could tell her if he was hurting. she wanted to be there for him, to comfort him, the way he'd helped her. maybe he didn't trust her, or maybe he'd been hurt too much, but she could see it in his eyes that he was trying to be brave.

❝alright, if you insist❞ this was going against everything she was. she'd never let mal just play it off as if he was fine, and whenever he had, she always hounded him. aleksander was different, so her approach would have to be different

❝sure i'd like that❞ she smiled and grabbed her kaftan, because the wind was a bit breezy. she didn't mind it. she loved this weather. they walked for a bit. alina was not the slient type, and it was killing her not to talk. she knew if she started the conversation, it would be about how he was doing. better to let him start it.

[shadowsignet]

@summonshadows sent: ❝ have you forgotten who i am? ❞

"No." That's why he sits on top of Sgaeyl who bares her teeth, tongue curling in threat of flame. Both of them had lost good friends in Aleksander's demonstration in the fold that left too many dead. Deigh had gone down against a volcra taking Liam with him. There had been no saving the dragon, dooming the rider. He fully blames the other summoner for that. His oldest confidante didn't have to die. They'd all volunteered and willingly signed on for risk of death, but it shouldn't have been him.

It wasn't too hard to track him down. Os Alta was in chaos thus ruling it out for locations to search. Another rider had gotten word of the plan being to cross the True Sea. As powerful as dragons were, they couldn't fly forever and few ships could hold one let alone multiple . There were limited stopping points between land. If they lost Aleksander to the water there would be no catching him. That's not an option. Shadow on shadow is just a stalemate, but he's somewhat certain even darkness isn't fireproof. Sgaeyl couldn't summon the sun so fire would have to do. Xaden bends low over her neck. "You look like shit."