Severine Volkova
Kazerine
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K A Zx &x S E V E R I N E
"He fastened the pearls around her neck, their rich luster luminous against her skin.
He resisted the temptation to stroke her bruised flesh, the need to touch his mouth to that abrasion."
– Anne Stuart
L O V I N Gx A N
E X E C U T I V E
Executives are fairly unique in that their relationships do not really change as they progress from the dating phase into more steady, long-term relationships and further into marriage. Because they value honesty and straightforwardness so highly, people with the Executive personality type are likely to be clear about who they are, what they are like and what their goals are from the start, and to stick to those statements long-term. So long as their partner is able to take them at their word and follow suit, they are bound to be extremely stable relationships.
This is not to say that there is not any growth of course – character development is always a high priority for Executives, and each life goal is important. Rather, it is that shifting moods, goals and desires are unlikely to fundamentally alter the basis of Executives' relationships.
Executives approach intimacy with similarly physical, active intentions, and from fairly traditional ones as well. Wild ideas and poetry are for less mature personalities, or so Executives might say, though they do appreciate recognition and well-placed compliments to maintain high self-esteem. They may look for more stability in their sex lives than most, but Executives never fail to bring their characteristic vigor.
This hints at a challenge in Executives' relationships though, and that is emotional intimacy. Touchy-feely moments are few, as are verbal statements of love; this is usually fine, as Executive personalities find other, more tangible ways to express their affection. The problem is in recognising the validity of those qualities in others, rather than simply dismissing them as pointless or irrational, something that can be extremely hurtful if Executives' partners are more sensitive.
Executives address conflict head-on with simple statements of fact – a very rational approach – but subtlety and emotional tact are sacrificed in the process. While Executives' level-headed, calm approach is appreciated by many, for others it is an uncomfortably direct approach. For all their social skills, Executives are especially bad at reading the emotional side of other people, and when it comes to their partners, it is more important than ever to try to improve.
Executives are people of strong principles and strong self-confidence. They use these qualities to protect their partners with admirable consistency. But people with the Executive personality type are also stubborn, with a firm belief in their rightness, and they can quickly damage more sensitive partners' fragile feelings. With this in mind, it is often best for Executives to find fellow observant partners in order to minimise communication barriers, with one or two opposing traits to balance their forceful character and provide opportunities for growth.
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OTP PROMPTS
"At least it was dark. His eyes drifted down over her body, the slight curves in the moonlight, and a dreamy expression crossed his face, just before he leaned forward and put his mouth against the side of her neck, tasting her hammering pulse."
– Anne Stuart
W H I C Hx O N E . . .
Constantly pushes the other person's buttons? ⟡ Kaz manages to get under Severine's skin more often than she cares to admit.
Sleeps in the adjacent room when they get into a fight? ⟡ They are equally likely to hold their ground, usually colliding in angry kisses, solving their collective issues when gasping for breath in between, rather than banishing one person from the bedroom.
Says "I love you" first? And who ends their arguments in a fight with "Because I love you"? ⟡ The "Because I love you" would likely be the first time a sentence of the sort is uttered between them, either by a worried Kaz or a desperate Severine.
Slides their arm around the other person's waist? ⟡ Kaz, teasingly, if only to harvest the pleasure of watching Severine go either completely stiff or utterly flustered from the gesture.
Falls asleep in a chair and who has to carry that person to bed? ⟡ They are both drawn to the comforts of the bed, but Severine is more likely to pass out from a hard day of Grisha-training, only for Kaz to carry her to bed and tugging her in.
Kisses whom first? ⟡ Kaz kissed Severine first, mere seconds after they first met in a murky alley in Kerch. Arguably, she was asking for it.
Spends all their money on the other person? ⟡ Rather than spending money on the other person, Kaz usually steals stuff from Severine, sometimes to gift them back to her later on.
Is embarrassed of their bedhead, and who thinks they look super cute? ⟡ They are both proud people, to rather than being embarassed on their own behalf, it's more likely that one of them would tease the other person about their bedhead instead.
Offers their jacket when the other one is cold? ⟡ Severine would never give up her kefta to Kaz (who wouldn't dream of wearing it either), so he would have to be the gentleman in this rare case.
Keeps getting threatened by the other's overprotective older sibling? ⟡ As neither of them has any biological siblings, their respective understudies (meaning Kaz' gang and Severine's second in command, Irina) will do the job of scrutinizing and threatening the 'family' newcomer.
Compliments the other in front of everyone? ⟡ Kaz, again, only to watch Severine flinch and be all weird about it. She'd take a catcall any day over whatever scandalous compliment Kaz will pay her. Those are not intended for the public eye.
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QUESTIONNAIRE
"Something strange started to rage inside me, hearing you inhale sharply as I tried to kiss those scars away or etch them deeper into your skin,
wanting to mark you in an entirely different way."
– D.S. Wrights
⎨FIRST MEETING⎬
A rather chaotic affair in the streets of Ketterdam. Severine was being chased by the Stadwatch and Kaz conveniently stepped in and assisted her escape, claiming payments for his services in the form of a kiss and a bejewelled hairpin - both stolen, of course.
⎨FIRST KISS⎬
Their first kiss is rather entangled in their first meeting: A less than romantic event instigated by Kaz to mislead the Stadwatch seeking to arrest Severine for being Grisha. The kiss was swiftly answered by a slap across the face and a verbal demonstration of just how foul the army of the King's Second Army can be.
⎨FAVOURITE PARTNER TRAIT(S)⎬
The low, angry thrum of a temper barely leashed that enters Kaz' voice when things are about to get dangerous.
⎨ENDEARMENTS⎬
They call each other by their respective last names so often that anything but would be considered a nickname. Severine has a colourful palette of (affectionately) foul names for Kaz, including thief, snake, rogue and wretch, and he responds ever so lovingly by calling her darling, doll or love, knowing full well that she hates it.
⎨FAVOURITE MEMORY⎬
X.⎨PREVIOUS LOVERS⎬
Severine eased into her ambitious work ethics at an early age, and never had much time for lovers. Many have tried (and failed) to earn her affections, but only Kaz have managed to get under her skin.
⎨FIGHTS⎬
X.
⎨JEALOUSY⎬
They are equally likely to scowl sourly whenever people's eyes go wandering towards their partner, and even more so if they manage to make them smile. Likewise, neither of them would ever admit to having such jealous tendencies.
⎨WEDDING⎬
X.
⎨THE FUTURE⎬
X.
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LOVE LANGUAGE
"He was sound asleep, his long legs stretched out in front of him, the blessed fire blazing, an empty bottle of wine by his side. He hadn't been shaved recently, and he looked rumpled, dissolute and beautiful. Like a fallen angel. She moved to stand in front of him and pointed the pistol directly at his heart.
'I wouldn't do that if I were you,' he murmured, and then he opened his extraordinary eyes. 'It's always unwise to shoot the man you're in love with.'"
– Anne Stuart
P H Y S I C A Lx T O U C H
Sub headline.
For those, whose love language is that of the physical touch, they yearn for the intimacy that comes along with having a parnter close by at all times. They find comfort in the physical connection, shared body heat and skin meeting skin, whether that be sexual or something more platonic. Holding hands, rubbing each other's backs, falling asleep with arms and legs intertwined or caressing each other lightly is just as beneficial to the relationship as a sexual act, although they are likely at their happiest when they melt together and become one with their significant other. To this person, a kiss on the forehead means a thousand times more than any declaration of love, and they themselves usually communicate their affection in the same, physical manner. They connect most deeply with their partner, when they are physically entangled, and they find both joy, excitement and beauty in knowing each other's erogenous zones and vulnerabilities without ever having to utter a word.
So leave your expensive gifts and grand gestures at home when it comes to charming this person, because a physical entanglement is all it takes. As long as it is given and received at the right time and place with good, honest intentions behind it.
"He cut her a glance. She'd tied back her black hair with a dark blue ribbon.
It was eminently practical, but had the unfortunate effect of making him want to untie it."
– Leigh Bardugo
K I S Sx M E
Sub headline.
When ❧ At any private moment, shared by none other than the loving pair. The physical lovers like Severine are charged through touch and intimacy, craving it in its absence (albeit rarely admitting to it), and may even grow sad or insecure without it.
Where ❧ Kissing her beneath her ear, along her jawline and down her neck will surely make her tilt her head back and sigh with pleasure.
How ❧ The slow build-up to a passionate kiss, making love in quiet surroundings, resting one's hand at the small of her back, inappropriate whispers. The list of possibilities is near endless.
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OTP PROMPTS
"She felt adrift in small, sharp bursts of pleasure. Was this how a man was suppose to kiss a woman? Tenderly... firmly... repeatedly? His fingers fanned through her hair till the pins gave way and wayward locks spilled like black ribbon to the small of her back. In answer, her arms circled his neck, bringing him nearer, every kiss sweeter and surer than the one before. Soon they were lost in a haze of sighs and murmurs and caresses."
– Laura Frantz
W H I C Hx O N E . . .
Is more afraid of loosing the other? ⟡ They never put it into words, but with both of them carrying out rather high-risk jobs, they each spend quite a lot of time worrying for the other person's safety.
Makes fun of the other person for having a crush on them? ⟡ Kaz would seize every opportunity to tease Severine about her developing feelings towards him. Anger? Disgust? Annoyance? It all looks like a crush to him.
Initiates the hand holding? ⟡ The hand-holding is a mutual thing that, like the 'I love you', just happens, albeit being limited to private moments, shared just by the two of them.
Is more protective of the other person? ⟡ They are equally protective of each other, in a rather extreme manner too, and would gladly take a punch, or give one, that be physically or verbally, for the other person.
Wakes up from nightmares, and who sings them back to sleep after? ⟡ Severine suffers from frequent nightmares, usually the same one, her past coming back to haunt her. Whilst she has gotten used to the uneven sleep, and has taught herself a mantra to keep the bad dreams away, having Kaz by her side certainly helps putting her mind at ease.
Thinks they don't deserve the other person's love and affection? ⟡ Both of them. Beforehand, both of them were married to their jobs, never having to give or receive anything but orders - and believing that was love. But having found each other, having found real love, however twisted theirs may be, the affection just seems unfathomable and therefore hard to accept at times.
Constantly wears the other's clothes? ⟡ They prefer to keep their clothes to themselves as Kaz is rather sensitive about his gloves and
Severine about her kefta.
Initiates the touching when the other person is near? ⟡ It is always a game with them, all long looks and husky tones, until one person caves in and demands more. In public, however, Kaz is more prone to lay physical claim to Severine than vice versa - if only to ruffle her feathers a bit.
Is more likely to start dancing with the other? ⟡ There is no way any of them would subdue to the act of dancing, not even to tease the other. They take themselves way too seriously for that sort of nonsense.
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COMPATABILITY
"'You're the devil, you know that, right?'
His smile grew and became just a bit wicked. 'You know it, sweetheart.'"
– Samantha Chase
T H Ex S C O R P I O
&x T H Ex C A P R I C O R N
When a Scorpio and a Capricorn collide, their love will make the Earth tremble beneath their feet.
These two may be wary about sharing themselves with one another at first, and this emotional caution may dampen the initial impact of this relationship. The Capricorn tends to be cautious and sensible, and is not one to carry their heart on their sleeve, whereas the Scorpio is pensive and mysterious, and so it takes a while for each of them to feel safe and comfortable with a significant other. Though they may be shy of getting involved and not the quickest to trust and share, these two signs will discover that they can have quite a profound connection - one of friendship and deep loyalty.
"His eyes touched every part of her. Even parts that may never have been touched before. They flashed with lightning, singing along her nerves with electric currents of heat. A sultry, answering thunder whipped through her, calling forth a storm so unexpected, she almost felt betrayed by her own body."
– Kerrigan Byrne
Much can be learned when a Scorpio and Capricorn form a union - and the lessons they learn, while difficult at times to endure, are worth the trouble they might cause. From their stable, reliable Capricorn mate, the Scorpio can learn to bring their overheated emotions into control. The Capricorn must be careful, though, not to seem too emotionally shallow when leveling any criticism on their sensitive love. Detached comments can backfire with Scorpios: They desire depth, intense feeling and the utmost in sincerity in all situations - most especially in love. The Capricorn, so busy with achieving and with how others perceive them sometimes fails to take a chance with their emotions. From the Scorpio, the Capricorn will learn the value of looking below the surface of things, the rich pleasure that can come from deeply knowing another person. Both Signs share a love of committing to a task. If they decide a relationship is their next big goal to attain, there is no stopping these two.
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"She froze. He reached up and took her hand in his, pulling the knife away, making her drop it on the floor.
'Show me how much you hate me,' he whispered against her mouth. 'Prove it to me.'"
– Anne Stuart
"Her skin was warm beneath his hand, and he could feel her slender form beneath the lawn nightdress. The material might be opaque, but it did little to disguise the feel of her. He was not a man who resisted temptation. Nor was he a man who prided himself on honor, decency, or fair play. He thought of her eyes as she had listened to the opera, and he tilted his head and pressed his mouth against the base of her throat, beneath the ring of bruises. The pulse leapt beneath his mouth, hammering wildly. In panic or in longing? He didn't care.
He turned her in his arms, so that her front pressed up against his. She was a tall woman, taller than those he was used to, and he found she fit him quite nicely, her hips cradling his, her against his chest, her neck within easy reach of his mouth as he traced his way along the abraded flesh. She shivered again, and he liked it. Releasing her face, he slid his hand down between their bodies, into the ripped-open front of her nightdress, and encountered soft female flesh, gently rounded, tantalizing, enchanting, mesmerizing. She was trembling in his arms, with fear, with longing, and the shiver that ran over her warm, scented flesh was irresistible.
He wanted her. Wanted to lose himself in her sweet body, wanted to kiss her mouth, her breasts. He wanted oblivion, hot and dark, but oblivion with her, and the hell with his plans, with waiting. He was going to swing her up in his arms and carry her over to the sofa, he was going to drag her upstairs to his bed and strip off her clothes, slowly, and then make love to her, making it last, over and over again, until they were both wet and shaking, and he wouldn't let her escape for days."
– Anne Stuart
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"'The truth,' said [Kaz], taking a step closer to me, 'is that you look neither lovely nor demure. You look like edges and thunderstorms. And I would not have you any other way.'"
– Roshani Chokshi
