darcyelain

[darcyelain]

WARNING:

This post will lean anti-Lucien and anti-Elucien. I know he’s well loved by many, so you’ve been warned.

I’ve been bothered for awhile by Lucien’s history of court jumping and ability to “play the game”. From the very first time that he was called the “clever fox��, my mind labeled him as someone to watch. The Cambridge dictionary describes the term this way:

Sly. Wily. Cunning. Good at deceiving.

Anyways.

I was listening to ACOWAR again yesterday, and came to this portion, right after Feyre has returned to the Night Court with Lucien in tow. Feyre is surprised that Rhys allowed Lucien to not only see his wings, but to listen in on their inner circle conversation.

Feyre and Lucien are “friends”, but she doesn’t totally trust him. Feyre doesn’t like (but is AWARE) that Elain is being used as a political pawn. Rhys willingly admits that he’s planning to keep Lucien in line by dangling Elain’s safety in front of him. Most importantly (in my mind) was this tidbit:

Throughout ACOWAR and ACOFAS, Lucien seems be taking the bait. He’s still feeling out the bond with Elain in an effort to ascertain whether she’s “worth it”. Feyre and Rhys create opportunities in an effort to push them together. Once we reach ACOSF, though, something has changed.

Lucien is no longer wholly trusted by the inner circle. They believe his allegiance has shifted from his mate (and by extension, the Night Court) to the Band of Exiles. He’s no longer taking the bait, and seems to have realized that things with Elain are not going to fulfill the soul mate fantasies that he’s been sold.

When Cassian visits the Band of Exiles, we see stark evidence that Lucien is deeply concerned for Vassa. He’s pained by her plight, and even sets his sights once again on Koschei’s lake.

Cassian also points out that Lucien is able to play all of his parts flawlessly, not letting on what might be happening underneath the courtly mask. Like a clever fox.

So, we know that Rhys believed that Elain was the key to keeping Lucien accountable to the Night Court. He even reinforced that idea in the ACOSF Azriel POV bonus chapter. Rhys also told us in ACOWAR that if Lucien’s loyalties changed, he may sell information, for gain or to make sure that Elain stayed safe. By ACOSF it’s clear that Lucien’s allegiance has shifted to the Band of Exiles as Elain continues to keep him at arm’s length and his dedication to saving Vassa continues to remain a priority. The bait is no longer working, so what happens next?

Will Azriel regret not keeping eyes on Lucien? Were Rhys’s comments in ACOWAR foreshadowing? Will Lucien, knowingly or not, betray the Night Court in an effort to release Vassa from Koschei’s spell?

Was Elain’s “you betrayed us” a reference to the past … or the future?

[darcyelain]

why is gwyn more hyped up than emerie??? its so odd to me.

I've answered this before but really I think it comes down to 2 factors.

1.She's gay. Before ACOSF people were shipping her with Cassian and Azriel but we find out she's into women and a majority of SJM's readership are straight women who want to read straight romance.

2. She's POC. (Not gonna speak too much about this and I'm not saying that all Gwynriels are racist or malicious in the intent but I do think it's a factor of why Gwyn is more hyped than Emerie, however big or small.)

But ultimately I think it's because Gwyn is the easier character to self insert onto, she can be whatever a person wants since she basically has no flaws and open ended story that you can speculate on since she has no plot narrative and can go in any direction.

Emerie is is less easier to self insert onto and has a more set position in the narrative imo. (I think if anything is going to be done more with Illyria or the Valkyries, it'll be with Emerie. Anything else just leaves a bad taste in the mouth tbh. Also, her potential romance with Mor which Emerie has at least shown an interest in, unlike Gwyn to Azriel.)

My two cents.

[darcyelain]

Them vilifying Elain over a man’s choices..

"Elain will become a villain when she finds out about the necklace."

Worst has happened to her. She got kidnapped and turned fae against her will. Do you really think a regifted necklace is going to be her motive to become a villain?

Gwynriels never fail to surprise me. They want her out of their way so bad that they come up with the stupidest stuff.

[darcyelain]

The way this fandom twists itself into knots to create separate standards for certain characters should actually be studied. Because tell me why Lucien is treated like a martyr but Elain is treated like trash.

- Lucien, a full grown Fae male with ties to multiple courts, is complicit in Feyre’s emotional abuse at Tamlin’s hands. Lucien is Tamlin’s friend and one of the few people Tamlin would listen to. He “tries” to help Feyre but mostly just tells her to wait out her suffering. The fandom: “What was Lucien supposed to do??” “Tamlin is his High Lord! He couldn’t have done anything!!” “Actually Lucien was being abused by Tamlin too!!”

- Elain, a young teenage girl with limited skills and resources, doesn’t help take care of her family when they are destitute and starving. Elain acknowledges her failures in the book and attempts to make right by them. Plus she did buy Feyre paint when she had the opportunity. This fandom: “Elain is useless and stupid!!” “Why didn’t she grow potatoes??” “She planted flowers while her family starved???” (ignoring the fact that Feyre bought her the seeds and instead treating Elain like she just wasted everyone’s time and money) “What an evil, horrible sister!!”

- Elain did not have a particularly large role in assisting war efforts because she was in a severe state of grief/shock. She still manages to have several notable moments where she assists the group in an impactful way. This fandom: “Elain is so useless!” “All she does is cry!” “Elain is boring and doesn’t help with anything!!”

- Lucien has an incredibly small role in assisting with the war efforts, not even actually freeing Vassa (Papa Archeron handled that). This fandom: “Lucien couldn’t have possibly helped! “He was sent to the continent!!” “The IC kept Lucien from getting to do anything!” “Lucien killed his way across a battlefield!!” (ignoring this is actually never stated in the text. He obviously saw combat but it is never mentioned how much he did or did not do. Because ultimately it is not relevant)

- Elain is weary of Lucien and doesn’t want to accept a mating bond she had no choice in. It is explicitly stated how much she still loves Greyson and how long she mourned the loss of him. The worst part of the fandom: “She needs to get over herself!” “She has to give Lucien a chance!!” “What a bitch!!” “Lucien deserves better!”

- Lucien seemingly unsure of what to do with Elain and thinking she was thrown at him. Lucien is perfectly content not being around Elain and has started a new life without her in it. The worst part of this fandom: “Lucien is so kind for giving Elain space!” “He is an angel, a perfect gentleman!” “Lucien treats Elain better than any other male has treated his mate in the series!!”

So apparently Lucien’s inaction or complacency means he is actually the biggest victim in this story, but also a conquering hero, and also the best mate anyone could ask for.

But Elain’s mistakes and unrecognized contributions make her boring, evil, stupid, useless, and a total undeserving bitch.

Elain very literally did more to save Pyrthian than Lucien did across the whole series but the discussion around her is vitriolic, while her “mate” is type cast as a victim of all circumstances. Make it make sense.

*This is not an anti Lucien post. I do not hate his character and I truly believe every action or inaction with Lucien happened for a reason. This is simply an attempt to demonstrate the atrocitious double standard that exists in this fandom*

[darcyelain]

Azriel doesn’t need someone to understand his darkness. Azriel needs someone who thinks he’s MORE than the darkness he was forced into. More than a killing machine, a torturer. This man has never even been given the chance to be anything else.

Of course he’s going to become obsessed with the sweet, kind female who refused to be made hard by the things that were done to her. The female who was comforted by his presence, who looked at his biggest insecurity and couldn’t help but call it beautiful. Someone, he desperately hopes, that can see every part of him and maybe still love him.

To her, he isn’t a shadowsinger. He’s just Azriel.

[darcyelain]

There is a difference between Azriel’s shadows being present but restrained/behind his back and them being utterly gone, you know.

When they’re absent, he simply doesn’t need them. He’s safe. Relaxed.

[darcyelain]

My husband got me a beautiful embroidered apron for Christmas, truly entering my 🌸🌹💐🌼Elain Archeron Era 🌼💐🌹🌸 (baking bread and growing things with a man obsessed)

[darcyelain]

Elain weighed my words … and slowly closed her fingers around the blade.

Cassian gawked at Azriel, and I wondered how often Azriel had lent out that blade—

Never, Rhys said from where he finished buckling on his own weapons against the side of the wagon. I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife.

A Court of Wings and Ruin - Chapter 69

[darcyelain]

im sorry but “Elain will rule the Day Court alongside Lucien because she likes the sun” is giving “Elain is Tamlin’s mate because she likes flowers.”

[darcyelain]

Edited by me, if you'd like u can follow me on tiktok: luna.tan.7 🥹🌸🦇 here' the link:

Credit for the artworks' owners.

[darcyelain]

Here’s how Lucien reacted to Elain being taken by the NC after she was turned fae

Lucien was shaking his head, panting, and whirled to us. “Get her back,” he snarled at Tamlin over the ranting of the king.

And here is how Az reacted to Elain being taken by the Cauldron/Hybern

From the shadows near the entrance to the tent, Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, “I’m getting her back.”

[darcyelain]

I can admit I’m a fan of crackships: Dramione, Klaroline, Zutara are some examples.

I, of course knew Dramione would never happen in canon. Enemies to lovers is chefs kiss though.

Klaroline definitely had the potential and I was rooting for them to the end.

Zutara, once again enemies to lovers, love it.

I wasn’t so naive to think that these characters were ever going to end up together. I accepted that and moved on. Antis can’t seem to do that. They call us delusional for even thinking that Elain and Azriel could possibly be endgame. They have a higher chance than Gwyn and Azriel. Casual readers barely remember who Gwyn is. That’s a fact. I just think they need to just accept that Elriel can happen regardless of how they feel about it.

[darcyelain]

Nuala, Cerridwen and Elain✨

🎨 art by gdeliarte

[darcyelain]

Something antis do that make it extra obvious they’re wrong:

Ignore Nuala and Cerridwen’s existence as Elain’s friends

[darcyelain]

IDK if this is something or it could be nothing but I did think there were some interesting coincidences where Elain is wearing blue during pivotal moments in ACOWAR where Azriel is involved. I will preference this by saying SJM does overuse blue descriptors in ACOTAR so take this with a grain of salt. 😅

First occurrence, Elain has a vision before everyone realizes what’s happening to her. Azriel approaches her and asks her what she is seeing. He eventually finds out that she is a seer. She is wearing a blue shawl.

Second occurrence, Elain is kidnapped and Azriel is the first to notice. Her blue cloak is left behind.

Third occurrence, when Azriel gives Elain Truth-Teller she is wearing a blue surcoat.

Just something to think about 🤓💙

[darcyelain]

"Girls like it when men ignore em"

LIEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS

I WANT THAT MAN OBSESSED WITH ME

I WANT HIM THINKING ABOUT ME LIKE A PRAYER, EVERY BREATH, EVERY MOVE, EVERY CHOICE HE MAKES ANCHORED TO ME. I WANT HIM LOSING SLEEP BECAUSE THE IDEA OF ME IS TOO LOUD IN HIS HEAD TO LET HIM REST. I WANT HIM TO LOOK AT ME LIKE I’M THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS—LIKE THE WORLD COULD BURN TO ASHES AROUND US AND HE WOULDN’T CARE AS LONG AS I’M STILL STANDING THERE.

I WANT HIM TO SPEAK MY NAME LIKE IT’S SACRED, TO LOOK AT ME LIKE I HOLD THE UNIVERSE IN MY HANDS. TO BE HAUNTED BY THE SOUND OF MY LAUGH, THE TRACE OF MY SCENT ON HIS SKIN, THE MEMORY OF MY TOUCH. I WANT HIS OBSESSION TO BORDER ON MADNESS, TO FEEL ME IN EVERY PART OF HIM LIKE A HUNGER HE CAN’T EVER SATISFY.

I WANT TO BE HIS FIRST THOUGHT

[darcyelain]

Ok so ... lemme get this straight .... interactions between Elain & Lucien which are explicitly described as "awkward" and "strange" by multiple characters taking note of how Elain cringes away from Lucien and avoids him....

That's supposedly romantic? And endgame?

Cool cool cool ....

And interactions between Elain & Azriel which are literally described as both of them smiling at each other, feeling at peace with each other in silence, sharing charged glances and brushing fingers, with multiple characters observing how they seem to be suited for each other....

That's "just lust"? That's a "rebound"? That's "sibling behavior"? That's "Elain is afraid of Azriel"? That's "Azriel can never feel comfortable around Elain?

Gotcha. Cool cool cool.