#I love Gwyn but she makes me sad

[ryniadora]

Gotta say, as much pain as I am in right now I am really enjoying being in the trenches of fandom during pivotal moments again. Been a long time.

That said, I spent my afternoon writing 2000 words of BSD-related angst instead of working. I do not need angsty Guinevere Pendragon consuming my brain again, I just got her out thanks to Dawntrail and was actually writing something else.

[butchreyes]

grief week! (omg such a morbid title)

tagged by @lonestar-s5countdown and @reyesstrand <3

which character death in 911 lone star hit you the hardest? — definitely gwen, because it was such a shock (to me at least, some people said they saw it coming but i really didn’t think they would take it there) and also i just love her so much. like that’s mother to many.

what is your favorite grief-related moment in the show? — carlos in that guy’s garage is one of my favorite moments of the show period. i love to see characters pushed to their absolute limit psychologically, and rafael ate downnn.

do you think there will be a character death in season 5? if so, any guesses about who it might be? — i don’t think they would kill another major character in the last season, but if they did, i think owen would be the best choice. it would be a pretty bittersweet ending: he finally gets what he set out for in the pilot (rebuilding the 126, saving his son) and now he can have ghost sex with gwyn. DEFINITELY NOT MATEO THOUGH HE WILL NEVER DIE.

which living character's death would destroy you the most? — tk or carlos would of course destroy me because of the double whammy effect (i lose a blorbo and have to witness another blorbo grieve) but if we’re talking maximum impact, contained blast radius of one single charlie: my sister mateo… he’s just too innocent.., blame @tellmegoodbye for even putting this idea in my head

which character's childhood trauma do you think was most significant in shaping them? — the miasma of emotional damage is like a dense fog around carlos. as soon as he cooked tk that fucking red snapper i knew there was something seriously wrong with that man. any other character i could meet out of context and assume they had a completely normal middle-class childhood. not carlos though… one look at him and i just knew someone had cooked here.

tagging: @tellmegoodbye @paperstorm @alrightbuckaroo

[florencemtrash]

The Shadowsinger & The Inkbird: Chapter Twenty-Seven

Summary: Y/n's clairvoyance is a gift from the Mother, but it feels more like a curse. With the power to gain knowledge through touch alone, Y/n holes herself up in The Alcove and hopes her powers and parentage will remain a secret. But things will change after the Summer Solstice ball and a chance encounter with a certain Shadowsinger.

Warnings: Violence, suggestive content

The Shadowsinger & The Inkbird: Masterlist

Masterlist of Masterlists

Two months. Two. Fucking. Months. Cassian shook his head, almost impressed.

Quite literally two fucking months. 

Cassian’s breath caught in his throat. He half-coughed, half-laughed up the wine he’d been drinking. Nesta thumped his back, a mischievous smirk plastered on her normally severe face. 

Rhysand had finally gotten word that you and Azriel would be arriving… well, anytime now. Everyone had piled onto the House of Wind’s roof to await your return, the taste of new gossip already in the air. 

Nesta lounged in Cassian’s lap, searching the horizon line for the tell-tale flicker of Azriel’s wings. Gwyn, Emerie, and Mor were too busy placing bets on which of the males — if any — would come out of the fight unscathed to stare at the sky. 

“Fifty on Azriel.” Emerie said without hesitation.

There was a clatter of coins. 

“I’ve got a good feeling about Helion. The paternal protectiveness might make him especially vicious.” Gwyn reasoned. 

“Brotherly protectiveness may prove just as strong. If not stronger.” Was Mor’s opinion. “Lucien and Helion both won against Azriel last time.” 

“Az wasn’t trying then.” Emerie argued back. “Sad male that he was.”

The father-son pair tried not to let their egos grow or be injured by the conversation happening so close by. Instead, they engrossed themselves in their third chess game of the morning. It was becoming rather tedious by now. Being the early risers — and overprotective males — that they were, they’d been waiting for hours in the training ring for the first sign of your return. 

Alas, nothing so far.

A spread of breakfast plates cluttered the table they played on, silverware stacked neatly on porcelain plates. Save for the knives. Those were kept in close reach.

Rhysand tried to join in on the game, but the two males refused him time and time again. They knew better than to play with a daemati. 

“Feyre, darling,” Rhys purred. “Won’t you indulge me?” 

She smirked, but slid into her chair beside Nesta and Cassian, and across from her mate. She folded her finger neatly beneath her chin, her wall of adamant strong and impenetrable. 

Rhys was about to make his first move — pawn to E4 — when a twinkle in Feyre’s eye told him they had visitors. 

Cassian stood up straighter, a shit-eating grin already plastered on his face as he cupped his hand to his mouth and whooped.

A full house. You remarked as the House of Wind came into view above the city. Its red stone spires crawled into the sky. Reaching like outstretched fingertips.

The wind sang in your ears, ruffling your hair as you clung to Azriel. 

Lucky us. You teased.

A muscle in Azriel’s jaw twitched at the flash of red hair and crown of black locs waiting on the roof. 

Helion and Lucien rose slowly, twin smirks gracing their lips as they started unclasping necklaces and tying back their hair. 

Is it too late to go back to the Cottage? Azriel growled, dropping to his feet on the House of Wind’s roof.

I’m afraid so. We’ve committed. 

You slowly untangled yourself from Azriel’s hold and planted both feet on solid ground. He caught your arm before you could stray too far, tugging you back to his side and wrapping a wing around your shoulders. 

“You’re baaaaaack!” Cassian sang, throwing his arm out in a gesture of welcome. “Gods have we missed you both. You especially, Y/n. You look lovely. The mating bond suits you.” 

He winked seductively, blowing a kiss in your direction. 

Azriel figured Cassian could do without his remaining arm. 

“I hope Azriel sufficed for your first time.” Rhysand chimed in. His voice was liquid velvet. By now, Azriel had gone stone still — a dangerous look for the Shadowsinger. “But if you’re ever interested in sampling better fares, Cassian and I—” 

Helion slammed into Azriel’s side before he could reach Rhysand, wrapping his powerful arms around Azriel’s middle and throwing him across the room where Lucien waited with fist pulled back. 

Remember what we talked about. 

Azriel was slippery and cool as he wove in and out between Helion and Lucien’s bodies. He threw out a collection of strikes that had blood splattering on the ground.

Nothing permanent. He growled.

Thank you. 

“Did you see that?” Rhysand looked aghast as he settled deep into his seat. “He was going to hit me!” He flipped his cane end over end. 

“He has no honor, brother.” Cassian agreed. But both had to admit, there was some satisfaction in getting to watch the fight instead of participating in it. 

You slunk around the edges of the training ring, trying to avoid getting too close to the tumble of bodies that were being thrown around like rag dolls. 

It would seem there was someone else trying to escape notice.

You blinked in surprise. “What are you doing here, High Lord?” 

Eris Vanserra leaned against a stone pillar, foot propped up against the wall as he swirled a glass of wine between bejeweled fingers. Aside from the gold glittering on his knuckles and along his ears, he was dressed like a commoner. His brown riding boots were well-worn with love and his shirt was left open at the top to reveal scarred and freckled skin. He chuckled when Lucien slammed his fist into the side of Azriel’s face with a growl that rattled the columns.

“None of that High Lord business.” He said, swatting the air like the very term offended him. “Call me Eris.” He smiled sideways at you, never taking his full attention off the fight. “Lucien asked me to come as backup, and I would never pass up the opportunity to help my brother,” he glanced down at you and cocked his head to the side, “And my sister.” 

“Is that what we are now? Siblings?”

He shrugged. “We always did want a girl in the family.” 

You were about to ask who Eris meant by “we” when there came a loud bang. 

Azriel held the shattered legs of a chair and Lucien kneeled on the ground, spitting splinters from his mouth. 

“You’re doing your brotherly duty wonderfully.” Your words were drier than a desert. 

Helion came to Lucien’s aide and used those powerful legs of his to drop kick Azriel in the chest and crack a rib… or two. 

“I’m also here for the entertainment.” Eris winked. 

When he turned back to the fight, Azriel was already staring at him, and he was livid. 

“Ahhhh, that’s my cue.” He tousled your hair, earning a roar from Azriel as Lucien and Helion latched onto his arms and held the Shadowsinger back. “We’ll talk again later.” 

He sauntered over to the trio, reared back his fist, and punched Azriel in the stomach. 

Nesta waved you over from her spot at the table with Gwyn, Emerie, Mor, and Feyre. It was a safe enough distance away from the brawl, even if the glasses shook every time a body hit the floor. 

“Leave the males to their fighting and eat. You must be starved.” Nesta slid over a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast slathered in a healthy amount of butter. 

You hated that Nesta was right. The frenzy had left you with little patience for eating most days. You descended upon the food. 

Gwyn was still watching the males. There was a strange fascination in her eyes as Helion spit out a mouthful of blood and Azriel punched Eris in the teeth. “I wonder how many wars could have been prevented if the males simply gathered in a room with their right hands and a ruler.” 

Emerie snorted. “I reckon at least ten.” 

Gwyn shook her head. “So.” She turned her attention to you and leaned in close. “How was it?” She did not speak the words quietly.

You blushed through a mouthful of eggs. “It was… very nice.” 

“No, no, no, no, no, no, no.” Nesta shook her head so many times that flyaway strands of blonde hair escaped her coronet. “How was it?”

Cassian moved in close, resting his head on Nesta’s shoulder. “We want details.” 

“Oh, stay out of this, Cass.” 

The Lord of Bloodshed huffed when Feyre enclosed the females in a wall of silent air. He settled for laying his head against Nesta’s back, feeling the vibrations of her body as she spoke.  

“We do want details. Spare us nothing.” 

The females hovered, breaths held in their chests for every salacious detail you were certain to tell. Their excitement made them forgetful of one very important fact — you had always been, and likely always would be, very private.

You looked at Feyre and swallowed. “We um… We broke the windows at the Cottage and need them replaced.” 

The females blinked. 

“Which ones?” Feyre asked, arching a dark brow. 

Azriel smiled at you from across the training ring, a trickle of blood spilling out from the corner of his lips as he wrestled Eris to the ground with his legs locked around the redhead’s neck. 

“All of them.” 

It was near noon when the fighting started, and the males still hadn’t ceased though the sun had set hours ago.

You walked onto the roof smothered in one of Azriel’s sweaters to escape the air’s chilly bite. This high up the mountains, the wind always whisked away heat like the sea to sand. 

Scraps of fabric littered the ground. Bloodstains lay sprinkled across stone floors like salt. It was all to be expected after a mating frenzy, and it did not surprise you that Azriel had kept up with your father and brothers for so long, but, enough was enough. You wanted your mate back.

“Ahem,” You coughed loudly. 

Azriel’s eyes flickered to you before you even opened your mouth. He had felt your presence before you’d even walked up the stairs and stepped onto the training mats. 

My love. He sighed.

Eris got the last swing in, but he missed the Shadowsinger by a half-margin. Poor Lucien, who’d been holding back Azriel’s arm, got a fistful of gold rings instead.

Lucien’s head snapped back. “What the fuck, Eris?!” He stood grasping at his nose. Blood spilled out from between his fingers. 

Eris winced. “Sorry, little brother.” 

You made another little noise and the males shoved each other away, bodies sweaty and bloodstained. Eris’s shirt was ripped to shreds, barely hanging onto his narrow shoulders as he wiped the blood from his lips and grinned like a fox. Helion was missing a nose ring and the top tip of his ear. A bruise sprouted along Lucien’s cheeks courtesy of his brother. 

But Azriel? The only evidence he carried of the fight was the thin line of dried blood between his lips. It was not unpleasant to look upon.

Less than ten seconds ago they’d been at each other's throats with tooth and nail. But as males were ought to do, once the fight was over they were quick to grumble half-hearted compliments and began picking jewelry and abandoned blades off the floor.

Azriel tipped his head towards you in the smallest of bows. When you held out your hand for him, he didn’t even bother walking to close the distance between you two. He winnowed directly to your side.

About time you finished. I’m ready for bed and I’d like to have my mate beside me.

I like it when you call me that. I like it when you call me yours.

You smiled softly at him, brushing a lock of hair away from his forehead. You didn’t think you’d ever tire of smiling at his hazel eyes. 

You looked to the rest of your family. “Are you alright?”

“Don’t pretend to worry about us, dear Y/n.” Eris snorted. The smirk on his face was a friendly one, highlighting his handsome, but impish, features as he gathered his cloak from the corner of the room. He swung it around his shoulders, magically repairing his clothes with a flutter of red velvet. “We’re fine. And I would never pass up an opportunity to go toe-to-toe with the Shadowsinger.” He winked at Azriel, who only scowled in return. 

That scowl turned into a barred teeth snarl when Eris brushed past you both.

His warm, amber eyes betrayed what you already knew from that brief moment of contact before he went off to his room — he hadn’t been lying when he said they always wanted a girl in the family. 

“Goodnight, sister.” Lucien said, kissing your forehead. It took everything in Azriel not to pummel Lucien once more. Your brother’s eyes flickered up to the Shadowsinger. “And congratulations on your mating bond. Truly.” 

You mouthed the words, Thank you, before accepting a final goodnight embrace from your father. 

“It’s good to have you back.” He smoothed back your hair. Then Helion clicked his tongue and thumped Azriel on the shoulder. “Greedy little Shadowsinger. Keeping my daughter away for two months.” He shook his head in mock disappointment.

The pair soon disappeared down the hallway leaving you and Azriel to linger in the night’s silence alone.

The corner of Azriel’s mouth twitched — the only sign he was in any pain when you gently brushed against his ribs. 

You smirked. It would seem that your family members had done a number on the Shadowsinger. He’d just been hiding it beneath layers of leather and male pride. What a shame that the females’ bets had been for nothing.

My Y/n, whose side are you on? He asked as you began unbuckling the gauntlets on his arms. Piece by piece, leather armor fell to the ground as steam curled up into the air. It never failed to amaze you how large Illyrian tubs were—and how long they took to fill. 

I’m on both your sides.

That is a very noncommittal answer. 

It’s a very judicious answer. 

Azriel smiled, cheeks brushing against yours as he kissed the curve of your ear. I do agree you are anything if not sensible. 

Azriel hummed in satisfaction as the last of his Illyrian leathers dropped to the floor. You knelt beside the tub, pouring in a concoction of oils as Azriel stretched out his wings. It was easy to admire the curve of his neck and the muscles of his back as his wings flexed open and close. 

When he was deep beneath the waters, eucalyptus and lavender opening up his lungs, he asked you to clean his wings. It was heaven whenever you touched them. Your soft fingertips seemed to hold all the power in the world — the power to light his blood aflame like whiskey or to soothe him like a sleep draught. Tonight your touch was peaceful as he wrapped his mind around the bond and felt your souls melt and mix like gold. 

This is to be our lives now. Azriel reminded himself once again. 

You buried yourself beneath the covers and made a little noise of contentment that never failed to make his chest grow warm. 

It is. You agreed. Would you like me to remind you? 

It was a pattern of words you’d grown used to while at the Cottage. Azriel would marvel at the mating bond—the peace that came with it—and you would take to carefully kissing the expanse of his chest, his neck, his collarbones, until there wasn’t an inch of skin that hadn’t been painted by your gentle lips. 

You began that ritual now, winding your way up his chest and ending at his eyelids. Black eyelashes fluttered against your cheeks as you finished performing the magic that was your love and devotion. 

I love you, Azriel. You reminded him. You would remind him of that truth every day of your lives. 

I love you too, Y/n. I adore you. 

You settled into his side and Azriel draped a wing around your shoulders in a move that was as natural as breathing now. Heads bowed together, shadows curled close by, and scarred hands met scarred skin as he traced the curve of your spine.

The Shadowsinger and the Inkbird. 

Together. 

As they were always meant to be.

<- Previous Chapter Next Chapter ->

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Author's Note:

This is the last chapter before the epilogue y'all. I don't think I can say anything right now because it feels weird to be saying goodbye to this story so... I guess I'll save my thoughts and emotions for another time...

[thelov3lybookworm]

Rewrite Fate

Summary: He does not care what the fans say, and so shouldn't she

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Word Count: 1390 (including comments and captions <3)

Warnings: a bit of agst and a tinyyy tiny argument but cass is adorable teehee 😋

A/n: ughh i love cassian hes so a ASDJAFKSHKJHDJKHS🥹

ANYWAYS, ENJOYYYY!!!🥳🥳🥳

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cassian_winkwink

liked by rhysand-thegreat, gwynshusband, gwyn-the-berdara and 490,559 others

cassian_winkwink new song on repeat, guess which one 💪🏻lets see who guesses it 🥳

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gwyn-the-berdara hmmmmmm idk twinkle twinkle little star?

rhysand-thegreat i think its baby shark this time

gwyn-the-berdara aah i see i see 🤭

cassian_winkwink you two are so annoying gosh

imjustagirl1995 strangle me daddy 🤤💦

getsunghoonedloser girl u crazyyy

y/nislovesickgirl rewrite the stars?

cassian_winkwink correctttt 🥳🥳🥳

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Soft sunlight penetrated Y/n’s slumber, letting her know it was far past the time for her to wake up.

But she didn’t want to, especially as the warm weight resting on her body refused to budge at her stirring.

Y/n blinked her eyes open, instantly finding the beautiful face of her beloved. His eyes were still closed, his lashes fluttering. Y/n wondered if he was dreaming, wondered what he was dreaming about. She raised her hand to touch his unbound hair lightly, feeling the strands sifting through her fingers and focusing on the feeling of warmth it induced in her chest instead of the coiling pit of sadness in her stomach.

Cassian’s brows furrowed, and he shifted to snuggle deeper into her chest. It made Y/n smile, and she dug her fingers deeper into his scalp, massaging gently.

"Y/n?" His voice was soft and rough as he peered up at her, his eyes narrowed to get adjusted at the sudden light assaulting his senses. She offered him a smile.

"Hello."

He smiled back sleepily, sighing as he leaned up and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Hey."

"Sleep well?"

She felt him smile against her skin. "Baby, sleeping next to you? I always have the best sleep."

She giggled, drawing circles on his shoulder. "I see."

He pulled away. "You’re supposed to say it back. Say, ‘oh same! I love sleeping next to you too Cassian’."

Y/n rolled her eyes, moving to push off the covers from her body, her heart beating gently in her chest at the softness of the morning. But he didn’t let her, his hands coming to rest on either side of her body, caging her in like his life depended on it.

Considering it was Cassian, he probably would claim it did.

"Cass, we need to get up." Y/n turned her head to search for her phone, trying to grab it from the nightstand, but Cassian’s hand snatched it from her before she could check the time.

"Nope. I deserve some love. Say it."

She shot him an incredulous look, but relented, speaking with exaggerated movements and a high pitched voice. "Oh Cassian! I love waking up next to you!"

He grinned, the lopsided tilt making his dimple peek out from his cheek. "Not the same words, but I can work with that."

Y/n hit him on the shoulder, sitting up.  He moved back to sit too, then scooted closer so one of his folded legs rested on her lap.

"So, what are the plans for today?"

Y/n raised a brow, her hands wandering to rest on his thighs involuntarily. "The plan is that you sneak out, go home, then go about your day. Or get yelled at by your manager. Pick what you want."

Cassian’s smile instantly was replaced by a scowl. "No. I said what are the plans for today, and that means what are our plans for today."

Y/n sighed, rubbing her eyes, knowing what conversation was coming and having had it far too many times by now. "Cass, you know we can’t be seen together-"

"Y/n I don’t see the problem in it! Who is anyone to tell me- or you- who to date?"

"You have a fanbase to appeal to and a reputation to uphold Cassian, and they won’t like it, you know that."

He released a frustrated breath. "Y/n, I really, really do not care what any of them think. Not if it means I have to hide my love for you and act like we have nothing going on."

"Your manager agrees we should keep it under wraps for now, Cass."

"You know I want you. You’re not a secret I want to hide. And you know you want me too, so please stop saying our hands are tied."

Y/n sighed, pushing off the urge to giggle as Cassian effortlessly slipped into his newest role of being the flirty character who’s too poetic for the sanity of the girls around him.

"Cass, you know the fans will get upset. They will do their best to break us up."

"And we won’t, because we’re stronger than that."

Y/n paused, staring deep into his eyes, the hazel that she had been intrigued by even the first time she saw them, before he even noticed her in class. They were so pretty, she could die staring at them and not complain.

They brought her peace, they showered her with the love she always craved.

"Cass, they will think I’m a gold digger, only after your fame and money."

"Are you, though?"

Y/n blinked, surprised. "What?"

"You said they’d think you are a gold digger. Are you?"

She wondered if he’d finally lost his mind. "No, Cass."

He shrugged, taking her hands into his larger ones, enveloping them completely. "Then what’s the problem? Let them think whatever they want to. I know you’re not only with me for superficial reasons, and you know that too. It is only us and our thoughts that matter."

Y/n felt her eyes go wet, but she smiled and shoved his shoulder. "I don’t know what they feed you at the set. Is it some sort of drug that isn’t getting off? Why are you being so cheesy?"

She blinked away the tears forming and found him grinning at her, his head cocked and gaze fixated on her. He looked almost… lovesick.

"I have to be cheesy, after all I play the role of the silly one in this relationship, no?"

Y/n sniffled, looking away for a moment. "And yet you’re the intelligent one."

Cassian gently tugged on her hands, making her meet his gaze. "Rhys and Az would laugh if you said that, you know."

Y/n’s brows furrowed. "You’re always happy doesn’t mean you are dumb, Cass."

His eyes softened. "I know, baby."

She huffed, pulling her hands away from his hold and wiggling out from under him. He watched her intently, his hands hovering around her as she crawled into his lap before wrapping them around her.

"You’re very smart, Cass."

He laughed, hugging her tighter as she placed her head in his neck. "Thank you, sweetheart."

She nodded quietly, playing with the fabric of his shirt.

"So? Do we agree that we should let everyone know?" He mumbled, one of his hands rubbing her back.

"Cass, are you sure?"

"I’ve been sure since day one, sweetheart. You are the only one I want, as a girlfriend, as a wife, as the mother of my kids. It will always be you. The opinions of a select few fans will not change that. And if they don’t like it, I can always stop acting. I mean, you matter to me more than anything."

She peered up at him, feeling tears gather at her waterline again. "I love you so much, Cass. And you don’t have to do that."

He smiled down at her, his eyes warm and soft as he moved to peck her forehead. "I love you too, Y/n. And I will if they’re too mean to you."

Y/n could predict his next actions as he began kissing her cheek, the nose. Before he could touch his lips to hers, she slapped him on the bicep.

"Brush your teeth first, asshole."

He laughed, nuzzling into her cheek again. "As my love wishes."

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y/nislovesickgirl

liked by gwynshusband, nesta_archeron26, feyre-archer-on and 40,500 others

y/nislovesickgirl soft launch? hard launch? you pick teehee @ cassian_winkwink

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rhysand-thegreat finally!! they're public yayy 🥳

cassian_winkwink it took some persuasion but here we are 🥹

feyre-archer-on omg im so happy for you two girly 🥹

y/nislovesickgirl 🥹❣️

imjustagirl1995 O.M.G.???????? CASSIAN HAS A GIRL????

cassian_winkwink since i was in uni 😏

getsunghoonedloser OH MY GOSH WHY DID I NOT KNOW THIS 😦

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Cassian Taglist: @moonlwghts @samslittlespoon @nickishadow139

[qwimblenorrisstan]

The Clandestine Culinarian Pt. 3 | Azriel x Reader

Summary: After the mating bond between you and Azriel snaps, he hides away in Rhys’ townhouse, spending time with Elain, only to run into you at Rita’s

Word Count: ~ 3.3k

Warnings: Angst, Rita’s, blades, hot dresses (and women)

A/N: Soo sorry it took me so long to write this, but I’ve been scheming this for days, hope you like it<3

Previous | Masterlist | Next

Requests are open!

Azriel had finally managed to calm himself down after an hour or two, with Rhys consoling him and Cassian quickly rushing to the townhouse to figure out what the hell was going on.

“She’s your mate? Am I hearing that right?”

“Yes, Cassian. And keep your mouth shut about it.”

Rhys replied, giving Cassian a pointed look before going back to watching Azriel closely. He was in shock, mainly. He’d thought that after all these months of getting close to her and comforting her and helping her adjust, Elain had to be his mate, just had to be. And she wasn’t.

He knew his anger at you was irrational, but he wanted Elain, not you, you were just some female he’d met and bought poisons from. You were deadly and cunning and ruthless, nothing like his sweet, soft, and precious Elain he’d grown to love. You were not what he wanted.

“I can’t stay there with her, Rhys-“

He managed to get out, before Feyre and Elain both slipped into the room, clearly wondering what was wrong and why Azriel’s face was red and puffy. Elain seemed to already know what was happening, based on the sadness in her eyes. Gods, he’d do anything to get rid of it, anything. He would go through an army to make her feel better, slaughter anyone he needed to, and do anything he could.

“Feyre, this is not the time, nor the place.”

Rhys said, a hint of something pleading in his eyes. Feyre seemed to want to help but understood that helping could come later. Right now was about damage control. She put one hand around Elain’s, before going to walk out of the room. However, Elain got four words out before being pulled away.

“Can he stay here?”

She asked, her tone so broken that he would stay here forever, the rest of his life if it would fix her. Cassian’s face hardened, clearly thinking, Rhys only sighed before giving a nod.

“You’ll stay here until we can work this out. Cassian…do you think she’s far enough along to pick up training with the Valkyries?”

Cassian sighed, knowing that while you had progressed very far in your months of training, there was no way in hell you were at the same level as Nesta, Emerie, and Gwyn.

“I can try.”

He said, his tone already unsure. It wasn’t a definite no, but it wasn’t a yes either.

*********************************************************

After Azriel had left, the House felt noticeably emptier, to you at least. It wasn’t any sort of noise you missed, but just the way his presence was subtle but always heavy in whatever room he took up. You didn’t dare pull on the golden threads tying you to the shadowsinger, not when he’d seemed so shocked and…upset.

That had stung worse than him leaving, maybe. His face had been contorted in shock and hurt as if you hadn’t been his first choice, and the only reason you were even on the roster was because of the bond. You weren’t sure how to think about that.

Luckily, you barely got any time to think with the new training with Cassian you’d picked up. You knew that working those blades couldn’t be easy, but good gods you hadn’t expected it to be so difficult either. Nesta on occasion tried to help you, but you still failed the ribbon test every single goddamn time as the ribbon remained there, hanging from the doorpost, dancing in the wind and taunting you.

Your body was sore and aching, but you were more muscular than before, you’d admit. At least the training was worth something.

Your mind still kept wandering back to Azriel, and to Elain as well. You’d seen the way he looked at her, with a hint of hope and longing in his eyes, and how she looked at him like he was the oxygen she needed to breathe.

So, like you did with any other girl problems, you sought out Nesta. You found her in the smutty section of the library that was formed to match her tastes, seeking out a new book among the shelves.

She took one look at you, a sort of pity and empathy in her eyes that usually wasn’t there, and sighed, sitting down on a large windowsill and inviting you to sit next to her.

You sat down next to her, not knowing what to say before opening your mouth to speak.

“I-“

“I already know, I saw the whole shitshow go down.”

She said in that bland tone of hers, picking at her nails in what seemed like a way to cover up an anxious habit. You weren’t surprised she’d seen. It had been right around training time for Cassian and the Valkyries, and they’d probably seen the entire thing go down. Embarrassment flooded you before you could stop it, creeping up your cheeks as you stared down at the hardwood floor, hands shifting constantly as you swallowed.

“He’s..in love with Elain, isn’t he?”

You asked, your voice a lot more resigned than you would like it to be. Nesta seemed to think about it, glancing at you before speaking.

“I think he’s got a crush, and I won’t lie, I think he was just looking for his mate. Elain, though…she’s infatuated with him, a bit ridiculous considering she’s already got Lucien groveling for her.”

Nesta said, a hint of distaste in her tone as she mentioned the mating bond between Elain and Lucien. She was still protective over her sister, it seemed. Even if she didn’t agree with her choices.

“Do you think she’ll be mad? I mean, of course, she’ll be, but..”

You went on, before realizing you were rambling and cutting yourself off with a sigh. Nesta simply shrugged.

“She won’t be happy, but she’s Elain, what could she possibly do? Not let you have a slice of her pies?”

That got a little huff of laughter out of you, some much-needed laughter after everything. Nesta glanced over at you, looking you up and down, before getting up and offering you a hand.

“Me and the girls were planning a girl’s night at Rita’s tonight, would you like to come?”

You hesitated, before taking her hand and getting up, nodding.

“Yeah, I could use a drink or two.”

What she then displayed could only be described as a wolf’s grin, her hand slipping off of yours to grab the book that had been on the shelf she wanted the entire time.

“Good. Wear your sluttiest dress.”

She said, a conspiratorial tone in her voice before she slipped off into the winding labyrinth that was the library, ever-shifting and moving to adjust for her.

*********************************************************

“I’ll grab it.”

His dark voice spoke, reaching over the middle Archeron sister to grab the measuring cups that were just out of reach for her. His chest pressed ever so slightly against her back as he grabbed it, before placing it on the counter for her and then going back to maintaining a respectable distance away.

He could’ve sworn that she always kept those cups lower down, but they were higher this time. As if someone had deliberately placed them there. As if someone had wanted the help of someone taller, who always was there at every beck and call.

“Thank you.”

She spoke softly, smiling up at him with a warmth that could melt the sun itself. Elain looked ethereal in this light, and she’d looked beautiful even before being turned to High Fae. Now she could rival the Mother herself.

The months being in the townhouse had been hard at first, being constantly away from his mate, but slowly the urge to be near you and touch you and hold you had faded away, replaced by Elain. Now that he thought of it, he could barely remember what your face had looked like, or your voice…or anything about you.

It was a sign, he supposed. A sign that even if the Cauldron had paired you two together, fate didn’t agree, and he was fully content here, eating every little home-cooked meal Elain made him, savoring the unique taste that was her cooking.

She never let him watch her cook the full meal, insisting that he not know the secret ingredients to the recipes she’d originally made during the starving days when she, Feyre, and Nesta had lived in that tiny little cabin in the woods. One day, she’d let him know the entire recipe. And that day would be soon, he was sure.

“I heard Feyre’s going to Rita’s tonight, maybe we could go together?”

She offered, her smile warm and safe. Everything he’d prayed for when he’d heard stories from Rhysand’s mother of love affection and support. The hope that he’d one day have it. What had her name been?

He’d never been as happy and just so free as he’d been with Elain in her kitchen in the townhouse with her, and the others had noticed a bit as well. How he seemed a bit more prone to accidentally tripping while lost in thought of her, or how he seemed to daydream or sleep so much better.

He snapped out of his thoughts, looking down at Elain with a small smile. It was odd that she of all people, the cook and soft, gentle woman, sensitive and affectionate, wanted to go to a bar for a girl’s night out. She seemed much more like a restaurant type of female, but he didn’t question it. He was happy for any excuse to spend time with her.

“Sure. We could go. What time?”

He asked, his voice soft as he watched her bake what seemed like a sourdough starter. She seemed to know without even thinking.

“5:45 should be fine.”

She said. It struck him a bit odd how sure she seemed. He hadn’t heard her ask Feyre at all, and his shadows, though most chose to stay at the House of Wind with the other female, hadn’t noticed anything of it. But she was Elain, she probably just knew.

*********************************************************

“Another round?”

Nesta asked with a grin, you returned the grin, too drowned in drinks to even care how drunk you got tonight. “A drink or two” her ass, Emerie was downing another glass, probably going to regret it in the morning.

They’d all worn the sluttiest dresses they had, with Cassian lurking nearby in the bar, fully ready to bite the head off of any male who got a bit too handsy with Nesta.

“Absolutely,”

You replied, at which Nesta proceeded to order another round out of her own money. She was rich as hell since the High Lord paid her for whatever the hell she did. You didn’t particularly care as long as it kept the drinks coming.

“Careful with the drinks, Nes. Feyre said there’s been some lapses in their bank, and you’re the prime suspect.”

Cassian said, giving her a nudge with his wing. Everyone knew of Nesta’s previous behavior, buying rounds and rounds of drinks with the High Lord’s money, and wasting it.

“That’s bullshit, she knows I wouldn’t do that anymore.”

Nesta replied, simply rolling her eyes and going back to downing her drink, eying Cassian with no shame at all. He only gave a cocky grin and eyed her back. She was wearing a black dress that sat snug against all her best features, and Cassian was loving the view, as were the other men at Rita’s brave enough to ogle her.

You wore a silky red dress with a high slit in the side and a cut that showed plenty of your cleavage, not to mention how the fabric hung and was tight in just the right places to be flowing but also leave little to the imagination. It was enough to get you a cheap hookup, at the very least, based on the men watching you.

A good way to keep your mind off of Azriel.

You gave Nesta a look, and she gave a nod before you strode off to the prettiest male you could find in the room, one of the ones who’d been watching you the closest. A sly smile grew on his lips as his dark eyes glittered with lust. He knew what you were looking for, wearing that on a night like this.

“What’s your name, pretty?”

He purred, hand going around your waist as you slid into his lap. One of your hands went to curl around his bicep, fluttering your lashes at him.

“Yours, if you can handle me.”

You said back, voice smooth as the silk you were wearing. The male’s hands began to wander, and you didn’t even bother stopping them as he leaned in closer to you, a low chuckle coming from his lips.

“Care to come home with me?”

He murmured, his breath hot against your skin. He smelled of a male musk, his scent reeking of cheap alcohol and arousal. You were too drunk to care.

“Gladly,”

You murmured back to him, not bothering to glance back at Nesta or Cassian, or anyone else in the bar as the male slowly got to his feet, hand around your waist, and began leading you out of the bar, from the back entrance. Your attention was solely on him, on his touch.

That was until you saw Azriel and Elain right outside the bar, engaged in painfully slow, heated kisses.

*********************************************************

He’d gotten dressed in some casual enough clothing, not overly fancy for a bar, but not to where he was underdressing. Elain had donned a cute blue dress, looking straight from a fantastical cottage out of a book he’d once read when younger. Maybe Rhysand’s mother had read that one to him. He couldn’t remember anymore.

They’d slipped in quietly, having a few drinks, which Elain seemed to wrinkle her nose slightly at the taste of the alcohol, but seemed more keen on getting him drinks. Something that would’ve sent warning signs in his mind blaring if he’d been able to remember just what he was doing here.

Elain kept glancing around as if watching out or looking for someone, or hoping not to be spotted. He hadn’t asked her about it out of the courtesy of being polite, but it still made him curious, until his brain was too fuzzy to care.

“Let’s get out of this stuffy place,”

She had whispered to him under her sweet breath, leading him outside to the side exit of the bar, before pulling him into a kiss. He couldn’t recall how or why it was happening, but his lips were on his, and he couldn’t find in himself the strength to pull away. His limbs felt wobbly, his shadows moving slower than usual as if weighed down by something. His head was swimming. What had been in that alcohol? His mind tried to think, but couldn’t. Everything felt so, so heavy.

And then he saw her. He could recognize her anywhere. His mate. His soulmate. His partner seemed by the Cauldron itself. She was dressed in what could only be described as an extremely revealing dress, red and silky, her cleavage and thigh on full display to the male who hungrily watched her, leading her to gods know where to get his fill and leave.

He saw something in her break when his gaze met hers, and Elain separated from the kiss, glancing over at the female with what looked like a mockingly empathetic smile.

Two things hit him at the same time; the fact that Feyre hadn’t been anywhere in that bar, even though Elain said she’d been invited by her, and the fact that ever since Elain had started feeding him every meal, breakfast lunch, and dinner, he’d completely forgotten the face of his mate, forgotten things he should know, his guard had fallen down, and now he was weak and put in the spotlight as the villain.

And then he hurled his guts out all over the ground, sobering up in an instant as he saw your tears. He needed to fix you, to fix this and figure out what the hell had been happening.

Even as he felt the slap of your hand against his cheek, and saw Elain go slightly pale with realization, he realized there wasn’t any fixing to be done right now.

This was about damage control.

*********************************************************

“You fucking bastard!”

You yelled as you slapped him, hot tears rolling down your cheeks before you could stop them.

The male that had been so hungry before stalked off, clearly not eager to be involved. Coward.

Azriel had come here knowing that you’d be here, and that bitch Elain had probably led him. He looked wrong. He was a bit pale and seemed dazed, out of it. His wings were dropping and scraping against the ground, eyes drooping. What was wrong with him? Even the shadows seemed sedated.

“What did you do to him?”

You seethed to Elain, and she seemed pale and wide-eyed as she began stammering.

“I- I had a vision where you hurt him, and I thought that if he forgot then-“

Cassian burst through the door of the side exit, alert and looking completely sobered up from his earlier drinks. Nesta was stumbling behind him, wondering what the hell was going on.

He was by Azriel’s side before you could even speak, helping his poisoned brother up and hoisting him into his arms. You were eliminated as a threat and the only person who’d been around him long enough to get anything into Azriel’s system….

“What was it?”

He demanded from Elain, voice harsh and pissed off. Elain sniffled, tears welling in her eyes as her hands shook slightly, she swallowed before speaking.

“Volucrae.”

She almost whispered, her voice so quiet and timid that even you could barely make it out.

Volucrae.

The seer bitch had poisoned Azriel with one of the most deadly poisons in existence, and the only place she could’ve possibly gotten it…

“You stole from my room?”

You asked, voice horrified and shrill. The leftovers you’d had from when your old shop had been burned to the ground by Kier and his men you’d carried on you, hiding in the room.

Elain only swallowed, nodding. Volucrae was deadly, yes, but in small enough quantities, it could cause confusion, memory loss, tremors, strokes, seizures, and more. She’d risked the shadowsinger’s life just because of a vision, a vision of you hurting Azriel, a vision that had been fulfilled with the slap, all because of Elain’s actions.

“I’m sorry, I-“

“Don’t.”

You and Cassian snapped in union as he took off with Azriel in his arms, now unconscious, probably going to find Madja to get any sort of solution to it, leaving you, a drunk Nesta being dragged away by Emerie, Gwyn, and Elain.

You stormed off, going anywhere you could to avoid everyone. You didn’t want to talk. You didn’t want to speak with any of them.

You winnowed straight into the House of Wind’s training grounds, picking up the Valkyrie blade and going straight into furious training, the only way to burn off this pure anger making you tremble and shake.

It was then, in the middle of the night, barely sober, still crying and angry out of your mind, that you cut straight through the ribbon.

The one-half drifted gracefully to the ground, falling like a leaf in the wind as the moonlight caught and illuminated little pink highlights of it.

It fell and fell, until reaching the ground, settling lightly on the dirt of the training grounds.

You stared down at it until it was all you could see and think of and hear until it was burned into your mind as your hands gripped the blade so hard your knuckles went white.

And you stared, until the possibility of Azriel’s death faded completely from your mind, until all you could focus on was the future.

And you swung your blade again.

Tags:

@lilah-asteria

@evangeline-xo

@hayrunnwr

@rcarbo1

@cleverzonkwombatsludge

@i-have-a-thing-for-the-dark

@weekendlusting

@evergreenlark

@julesvanslutta

[acourtofthought]

With it officially being the holiday season it makes me think of where we're at on the ACOTAR timeline which is either April at the end of SF or July in HOFAS.

From a narrative perspective I doubt that Sarah is going to write a third Solstice where Elain and Lucien's bond is unresolved. At that point the story becomes extremely redundant, with his longing from a distance and her accepting his gifts without interacting with him for the third year in a row.

I truly think on their timeline, the next holiday season that we see is going to be Elain and Lucien together and with a love story that was well worth the wait. Maybe even with the news that our resident Earth Goddess and Lord of the Sun will soon be adding a cousin for Nyx into the mix.

With the sisters all having found their place in the world of Prythian, where they've overcome the issues of the past, where they finally see the other for who they actually are and not who they assumed them to be.

Where Cassian, Rhys, and Lucien are together as official brother in-laws.

Where Az learns to let go of his jealousy towards Lucien and can enjoy the holidays with family and not wasted on obsession with women who were never meant for him.

Where Gwyn and Emerie might end up spending Solstice with the IC for the first time, giving the readers new crumbs as to their future love stories.

I have a feeling the next Solstice we read about is one where everything is different, where it's full of actual joy for everyone and not sadness the way we saw for Cassian and Lucien that first Solstice, for Lucien and Az the second.

Where Nesta has gotten gifts for everyone.

Where she and Lucien are finally at the point of teasing one another.

Where all the characters are together as family, in the true sense of the word.

[coeurdelain]

It’s always « poor Lulu » and never « poor Elain ».

Elain who had a mother who didn’t care about her. A mother who only cared about Elain’s beauty and what that beauty could bring her. A mother who didn’t believe in her. A mother who said she had no ambition, and that she only cared about her gardens. A mother who wanted Elain to have an advantageous marriage.

Elain who saw her father’s death. ( and maybe she feels guilty for his death for not arriving sooner. The fact she said nothing could have saved him. Did she have to make a choice between saving Nesta and Cassian or her father ? A life for a life. We don't know if changing the future can have consequences. )

Elain who saw both of her sisters almost die in front of her.

Elain who has been kidnapped two times. (And we don’t know her thoughts about it.)

Elain who was thrown in the cauldron. (Feyre literally said that Elain’s screams broke her heart and Nesta said she felt violated ») Also, the fact Elain was thrown the first one, she didn’t know if she would survive. She had to deal with pain, stress, fear and also, the humiliation when almost all of the men in the room laughed at her. Also, the fact she was almost naked in front of them.

Elain who had her heart broken by Graysen. He rejected her because she is a fae now. He didn’t accept her as she was. And during this time, she had to learn to love a body that people made her hate (people seems to forgot but for Nesta and Elain, Faes weren’t good people. They learned to fear and hate them.) All the sisters had to deal with this transition. Be the thing they learned to hate. They were humans and now they are faes. They saw their lives changed overnight.

Elain who had to deal with her new power. She was lost between reality and dreams. She saw and heard things that no one else saw and heard. She must have also thought she was crazy or something was wrong with her. Until Azriel told her she was a seer. She blinked and woke up. (And it makes me laugh when people said that she needed sunlight or see the gardens when it is written in the book that « she woke up »when Azriel told her she was a seer. You can’t make an interpretation when it’s literally written).

I also add that Elain was depressed in the beginning of ACOWAR. She wasn’t eating, she didn’t speak, she was staying in her bedroom.

And finally, Elain who had to deal with a mate while she is interested in someone else. A mate who reminder her of her trauma. A mate who reminds her the worst day of her life probably. (It’s also why I prefer Elriel than Elucien or even Gwynriel. The first meeting between two characters is very important to me, and the circumstances in which Gwynriel and Elucien met are just too sad. Elain and Gwyn look at them and they remember the worst day of their life, it’s not very romantic to me).

So, the lack of compassion for Elain is so incomprehensible. She’s literally the definition of suffer in silence.

And, I’am tired of seeing comment like « Lucien deserves to be happy ». They act like Lucien carried all the misery of the world on his shoulders.

All the characters suffered.

[fareehaandspaniards]

Miquella is nice

After finishing the DLC, Miquella made me think a lot. Before the DLC, he had a rather… one-sided image, I don't know what else to call it. He was incredibly kind, and we saw references for his connection to St. Trina initially (because we still remember Gwyndolin, who lived as girl. And we know Fromsoftware loves the archetype of the sad feminine young man). Miquella was a victim, was a martyr, and was an incredibly kind soul who prayed for Godwyn and invented a true miracle - the Golden Needle, which can help to hold the rot.

But the DLC absolutely turned his image upside down! And it makes me very sad to see a character's incredible transition and acquisition of a new layer of morality (gray) labeled as "bad writing" and "fuck GRRM he spoiled my baby boyy :(((((".

Today after talking with my spouse (He always helps me realize any fragments of lore. Sometimes I have a hard time understanding the simplest things that everyone has long understood and accepted. Also! Happy birthday to my beloved!), I could only finally understand why everyone is getting so worked up about Michella, even though we've had a scenario similar to his "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions" a long time ago. That was Laurence, everyone's favorite in Bloodborne, and Gwyn (he really wanted good things and it didn't turn out well :/), etc. I'll also remind you that the fandom (in the general sense) of Fromsoftware games is very fond of villains, and that's fine. But for some reason, when Miquella turned out to be not the good guy everyone wanted him to be, no one appreciated it. And I tried to defend him to the last in a discussion with my husband - Miquella sacrificed everything for the "greater good" in his understanding of the word, Miquella went the way of renunciation, Miquella knew how to love and loved his sister, Miquella wanted to correct all the sins of the past.

However, unlike most Fromsoftware villains, Miquella HIDES his atrocities (even from himself). Nashandra, Shabriri, Micolash, anyone - their motives are clear. They have principles, egos, backstories, justifications for wanting to be a destructive factor, some have these reasons built in at birth, some are insane, etc. Miquella, on the other hand, finds followers by Dishonest means, condemns Radahn to suffering for which to end the festival is organized, leaves his sister to die, condemns Mohg to be a puppet in his scheming, and still thinks of himself as a VIRTUE. He believes that the era he is about to found - will be good and bright. And with words of goodness he kills us in battle with Radahn!

Miquella is a golden apple with a very rotten core. We don't know, really, at what point he started to "rot". What's funny is that of the two twins, Malenia was rotten on the outside and he was rotten on the inside.

Miquella's center is in love. He carries self-love everywhere, charming and falling in love with almost everyone. That is why Malenia says, "My brother will keep his promise. He possesses the wisdom, the allure, of a god - he is the most fearsome Empyrean of all." I think he is the type of child who got used to being loved. The problem with this type is that he can become a wonderful person, or he can turn into a monster who will take love and attention at any cost. (My spouse reminded me here of stories of crazed maniacs who kidnapped those they loved and dreamed of a nonexistent future, not realizing the damage they were doing.)

But there are many questions that, perhaps, everyone should answer for themselves?

What vow did Miquella make to Malenia?

In my opinion, Malenia was not charmed by him. I've always wondered WHY she waits for Miquella at the cocoon in the Tree, even though it clearly shows Miquella being stolen???? She knew, she probably knew his plan originally. She had been waiting for his return like a god. But what had he promised? That when he returned, he would cure her of the rot permanently?

When did Miquella begin his "fall"?

There is no denying that Miquella was a good guy. He tried, he tried to help his loved ones. He looked up to Radahn as a child with respect, as the description of Remembrance of a God and Lord says. Miquella was in harmony with his other self, Trina. But what changed him? Failures? The desire to save everyone at once? The desire to be the most loved? To be perfect - a god? I'm inclined to think it was all of those things that corrupted him at once. After all, as a favorite child, he may have been flawed deep inside from the beginning.

Miquella had resurrected Radahn as a young, beautiful warrior, just as he had been before. But Radahn does not utter a single phrase during the battle, and his movements are more automatic. Radahn feels nothing, and it makes me think more and more that he's more like Miquella's wish come true, his hope of having a worthy consort he loved by his side.

Is Radahn a puppet or a future lord?

Nothing has been confirmed. I've also read that Miquella's spell was broken when his rune was split, that's how many NPCs come to their senses and realize everything. But I think his power would be enough to, like a necromancer, control a resurrected one? And honestly, it's unlikely Radahn would have wanted such a fate. He was holding back fate itself, the stars, so that what did happen to him in the DLC wouldn't happen. Thanks to Miquella, Malenia had turned Caelid into a solid rotten mess and blossomed her divine flower, and left Radahn in an insane state waiting for a noble death at the hands of other warriors. Miquella mutilated him. I don't think Radahn would have appreciated his methods, considering how dedicated he is to warriorship and uprightness, and also honors Godfrey.

What would have happened if the Age of Compassion had happened?

I think it would have been VERY bad. And after a major flourish of life and honoring Miquella, there would have been a decline and another Shattering. Miquella shows himself to be a man who does not tolerate dissent. I think there would have been a flowering of the Inquisition, persecution, murder, and brutal tyranny. And Radahn, most likely, would have simply been "squeezed out" by Miquella and destroyed by his boundless love. Yes, Miquella rejects his love, as @jarognieva correctly pointed out. But he rejected, in my understanding (we need a clear translation from Japanese here), his destined love, i.e., his intended spouse, Trina? Just as Radagon was Marika's spouse. Our Marika is a deity, but she is capable of love - her love for her son, Godwyn, caused her heart to break.

Fandom cancelled Mohg, now he is cancelling Miquella. People don't accept and don't want to comprehend the things that make them change points of view. That's how the witch hunt begins! So stop being shitty and decide for yourself what you think of Miquella before claiming him a "bad written character"

Miquella, as a character, has become an incredible bastard, manipulative and truly evil with a mask of piety. He doesn't go into battle as an honest warrior, he uses others. He "sacrifices" himself by actually sacrificing everyone else. But doesn't that make him MORE interesting?

He's broken a lot of headcanons, but I sincerely hope that the wave of love for him as a VERY gray character will still come! After all, he's a worthy villain archetype! A true evil hidden in a pure soul. How many fanfics, how many musings can be spawned from that. No need to deny him, rather try to accept Miquella for who he is. And don't make it into "good" or "evil". There's a particular aesthetic to how awful Miquella is.

[readychilledwine]

Halloween Costume Headcanons

Warnings - Some sexual references, ships.

A/n - Ship and let ship on this one, my loves. I had an idea too cute to ignore. Remind me to pay some of our artist friends for commissions next year 💕

Ps- Added by Liz after this was queued, I'm playing spicy sadness catch up. I'm going to get all of the 2024 Monster mash posted by Halloween, though. Setting goals. Setting goals..

🕸2024 Monster Mash Masterlist🕸2023 Halloween Masterlist🕸

Nessian -

Cassian and Nesta wanted to go off the beaten path this year.

Nesta was reading one night and the idea came to her, a book and a librarian. It was niche. It was perfect. What was Cassian going to do? Say no?

She knew the stereotype was sexy costumes, especially around Velaris, but she decided instead to honor the females she loved and admired.

Nesta purchased her own light blue robes, presenting the idea to Cassian with a glare.

She wasn't asking. She demanded.

They had to hand built Cassian's book costume. A t-shirt with a title wasn't enough.

She made the cover, the spine, and the pages from a crafting material, turning him into an actual book.

Feyre helped and painted the cover, ensuring it looked as realistic as possible.

The book of choice? The first Sellyn Drake novella her and the other valkyries read

Feysand and Nyx -

Rhysand wanted to do family costumes this year.

Nyx wanted to do animals.

Cats, Feyre decided. They were going as cats.

Feyre decided to be an orange cat, Nyx a black one, and Rhysand, Rhysand she forced into all white.

Feyre just shape shifted her fluffy tail and ears, Rhysand and Nyx both got to wear little headbands and fake tails.

Once Nyx went to bed, Feyre's costume became significantly more provocative. A tight corset with a short dress.

They did not stay long at the party.

There was a certain little kitty Rhysand was very interested in petting.

Listen… before we get up in arms… I'm giving you all of them..

Eriel -

Azriel told Elain to pick whatever she wanted to be and he was all smiles when she pulled out Rhysand and Feyre clothing.

Elain does know how to pull a great joke and the humor of winning Rita's couples costume contest dressed as the High Lord and Lady was not lost on anyone in the Inner Circle.

Elain was bold, so very bold, and Azriel could not have been more proud and she stepped out of their bathroom in the first outfit Feyre had worn to Hewn City.

Azriel helped her make it slightly more modest, finding one of his favorite lace bodysuits Elain had to layer under it.

“I just didn't want to wear black,” her sweet voice said as he helped her get into her heels.

“I know, my flower.”

Rhysand hated every moment of it and that only made Azriel happier.

Tell him to leave his girl alone, he'll steal your clothes. At least, that's the joke that went around the Inner Circle

Gwynriel-

Assassins.

The sexiest assassin couple you've ever seen.

Gwyn saw this as a chance to hide her face in a mask as she pulled on the skin tight black catsuit.

Azriel didn't even have to buy a costume, which made him happy.

Her thoroughly enjoyed helping Gwyneth strap weapons to herself, a quiet lesson with each throwing knife on why he preferred that location over another.

Azriel then let her attach his, seeing if she could remember the complexity of his custom Illyrian leathers.

They lingered in his shadows all night, another joy Azriel had. His female all to himself in the dark corners of the Halloween party.

They also did not linger long.

Elucien-

I was told this was required.

Cinderella and Prince Charming.

Lucien spared no expense on Elain's dress. A beautiful blue ballgown that glittered like water.

He purchased himself the tailored white jacket, the tight pants. All to fit Elain's vision as she had Feyre draw out exactly what she was picturing.

Rhysand had been kind and took his favorite sister in law down to the archives where his family jewels and crowns were stored.

Much like Feyre, Elain was smitten with the glow worms and it almost gave Rhysand a flashback when she asked if she could pick a glow worm instead of a crown.

Tamlin and Briar -

I wanted to include these two. I don't know if this is a confirmed ship, but I want it.

Tamlin and Briar are going as a bee and a rose. So innocent to the naked eye, so very not.

Briar’s dress was made to look like soft petals. Her hair was pinned with small teacup roses weaved throughout the long dark waves.

Tamlin looked ridiculous, a little headband with bee antennas. Black pants with yellow fuzz all over them.

“If we leave now, I can make sure your flower is properly pollinated, my love.”

Cue Briar blushing profusely as those jokes increase as the fae wine does.

She's all giggles as Tamlin laces his fingers in hers, pulling her upstairs for the evening.

Bonus:

Cassian and the Valkyries -

Nesta could not leave Emerie and Gwyn out this year. Tradition had the 3 of them always dressing together and her marriage to Cassian would not change that.

They had just finished the legend of Dracula and his 3 brides. The thick old book provided the most beautiful descriptions of the brides and their flowing clothing, outfits made to show the female form like the art work it was.

Cassian did not mind being dressed in his normal all black and the fake vampire teeth. Not when his wife looked so beautiful, abs and breasts exposed.

He also loved the way Mor couldn't stop staring at Emerie. And Azriel Gwyn.

His favorite girls were getting all of the love and attention in their group costumes, and he was more than happy to give the 3 of them their spotlight.

[temperedink]

my favourite ACOTAR fic by authors not on tumblr

I wanted to give some love to stories that aren't often mentioned on Tumblr and don't get reblogged over and over because their writers don't have accounts here. (I also just want more people to read some of my faves and scream about them with me.)

A Court of Ash and Sunlight by aturner1205 (Elucien; complete)

This Elucien fic had me on the edge of my seat and making up wild theories while it was posting. (I was incredibly wrong in said wild theories.) Elain and Lucien start to get to know each other better when they both are mourning her father on his birthday, and she confesses to him that she's never felt their bond. They're getting closer, and then Lucien is sent off on a dangerous mission, there's an accidental pregnancy, and Koschei after the Archerons. Tons of twists and turns here!

Fury and Siren by hurricane (next-gen; complete)

Next-gen fics where the kids are already adults are sometimes a hard sell, but these two interconnected stories get you deeply invested in Nyx and his cousins (their parents are all still around too). The first one is Nyx and an Illyrian shadowsinger (hmmm...) who's secretly been avenging abused and clipped Illyrian females, and the second is Nessian's son Caden and the only female Darkbringer who's been sent to assassinate him. These boys are definitely their fathers' sons, with their charm and flirting, but their partners do not let them rest on their privilege.

I Miss You (When the Lights Go Out), I Want to Taste the Way That You Bleed, and I Am Done With My Graceless Heart by greenvelvet_couture (Nessriel; ongoing series)

Soooo much Nessriel smut that kicks off when Azriel returns from a mission injured and Nessian want to take care of him (physically first, then sexually). Also a lot about Nesta training her post-ACOSF powers and the dangers that go along with that. But the author is VERY dedicated to the smut, bless her. Part 2 has just started and picks up with Bryce in the Night Court.

A Long Way Down by becauseofreading (Nessian; ongoing)

This one is a tough read, but it does a beautiful job of showing the recovery process from trauma and a suicide attempt. Nesta is suicidal and has deeply convinced herself of her unworthiness. Cassian is taken to task for his treatment of her and the words he's levelled at his mate, and the Valkyries, Azriel, and Elucien rally around her as she tries to heal and love herself with proper therapy. Cassian is ashamed of his treatment of her and is allowed in to help her heal if he doesn't upset her.

Where You Used to Lay Your Head by loveL (Gwynriel; complete)

This one is a bit of a time mindfuck, so you have to just accept that the Archerons and the Valkyries were born much earlier than they were in canon. Sixty years ago, Azriel and Gwyn were happy in their secret 20-year relationship (the IC knew he had a partner, but didn't know who she was) when suddenly Gwyn up and left him. Now she's back in the Night Court with Nesta and Emerie after creating the Valkyries in the Day Court, and Azriel is finally going to try to find out what happened that made Gwyn leave and stay away for so long.

Forgive Me, A Court of Shadow and Smoke, and The High Lady, the Shadowsinger, and the Omega, Part 1 and Part 2 by darcyshandflex (Elucien, Azris, next-gen; ongoing)

This epic series starts with Elucien and explaining why Elain has avoided him for so long--but now she's ready to fight for him. In A Court of Shadow and Smoke, we have omegaverse!Azris finally getting together (Azriel's the alpha, Eris is the omega) and all of the emotional and political issues that causes. The final two parts span 30+ years with Azris raising their three girls. When the girls are adults, their future partners are discovered, and that has long-lasting impacts on multiple courts in Prythian. This one is still ongoing, and apparently the final part is going to be sad and I'm not ready for it.

And here are three writers I would have included on this list who have since gotten on Tumblr (I procrastinated on writing this post for THAT long, but they were on the original draft!):

A Little Bit of Light Reading by @infinitefolklore (Elucien; complete)

One of my all-time favourite ACOTAR stories that I have reread a bajillion times. Elain and Lucien are alone at the townhouse and start flirting, which leads to other things, including library sex, a sorta blood duel, a reconciliation, a solstice sex party in the Summer Court, PLUS a threesome near the end, as a little treat.

I Can Wait For You at the Bottom by MissFreakingFortune/ @missfckingfortune (Elucien; ongoing)

Listen, if you're not reading this super-sexy modern Elucien rockstar second-chance romance, I don't know what you're doing with your life. Elain and Lucien were high school sweethearts who had their lives together all planned out, until Lucien left to chase his rockstar dreams. Ten years later, he's returned home for Beron's funeral and once they're back in each other's orbit, they both can't stay away. Lucien is determined to win her back, but Elain is much more wary, even though the attraction is definitely still there. There's also a great big bro Eris, and Mama Vanserra finally has her freedom from Beron so she can maybe start something up again with hot French professor Helion...and also tell him about their child, who is also going to need to know about his true parentage.

Phoenix Rising by Vivienne1412/ @annaskareninas (Elucien; complete)

I need you to drop everything and go read this fic. Yes, NOW. No, I'll wait.

Beron has seized control over all of Prythian and has either killed or exiled all of High Lords and other powerful fae (Feysand and Nyx are in the Hewn City dosed with faebane everyday; Nessian escaped to Hybern). The humans have also gathered enough power that they're a dangerous threat to the fae. Elain has been working as a nurse for the fae resistance efforts, and her latest patient is the long-thought-dead Lucien, the only free heir of any of the High Lords. They go on the run to protect him, as there's a prophecy about him that makes him the last hope to defeat Beron and Autumn for good, and shore up support from the Continent to get a fighting force. This is an incredibly well-written fantasy story with crazy-high stakes and DRAGONS. Go read it.

[tremsing82]

Is there any good explanation to the anti-Eluciens statement:

“I love Lucien so much and I want him to have a happy ending, just not with Elain.”

Like what a major contradicting statement to make. You don’t want this green-flag, good male to have a happy ending with his super sweet and kind hearted MATE.

Of course they state they want Elain’s happy ending to be with Azriel and when you ask about who should Lucien be with they obviously state Vassa but sometimes they say this really weird answer.

“They want him to meet a new female to be happy with.”

And again WHAT?!?!? You want SJM to write a WHOLE new female just for Lucien, who we have been following and reading about for 5 books. 5 books with Lucien. 5 books with Elain. I kinda feel we are at a point where we want these 2 characters to have their happy endings together. Also we have book established single females, Vassa, Gwyn, Emerie. But here is the thing those females have plenty of foreshadowing into who they are romantically interested in. Vassa likes to flirt/banter with Jurian. Emerie seems attracted to Mor based on her blushing when she saw her in person. And Gwyn has ONLY interacted with Azriel!!!! GWYN HAS ONLY EVER INTERACTED WITH AZRIEL!!!!! ONCE AGAIN GWYN HAS ONLY INTERACTED WITH AZRIEL!!!!!

But yes let’s have a totally rando female show up out of the blue in 1 book and have her fully seduce our mate committed red head. That makes total sense 🙄🤦‍♀️ This male who is still morning his past lover, who feels guilty for finding his mate, who is sad on behalf of his mate losing her love story, yes let’s give him some random stranger and have him fall head over heals for her. Let’s have him denounce Elain bond to him and Jesminda’s memory and run off into the sun with this female the readers have absolutely no emotional connection too.

These 2 statements are just mind boggling to me. To want Lucien to have a happy ending just not with Elain. To write Lucien a brand new love interest for his happy ending. You cannot say you want him happy when you also seem to be focused on wanting the person who completes him to reject the bond and be with someone else. Someone else who has an established female in his vicinity who is interested in him.

[c-e-d-dreamer]

'Tis The Damn Season - Part Two

A/N: Omg we're back again! With more ✨pain✨ and also the start of family shenanigans! Writing this chapter was so fun, and I hope you enjoy reading it just as much, bestie @xxvalkyriesxx 🩵 @acotargiftexchange

Read On AO3 // Previous Part // Next Part

“Please.”

“No.”

“Eris, please. I’m…” Nesta clears her throat, fingers flexing against her mug of tea as she swallows her pride. “I’m begging.”

“Oh, I know,” Eris drawls, leaning back casually in his seat and straightening out the cuffs of his sleeves. “And I must say, it’s much less enjoyable outside the bedroom.”

Nesta huffs, trying to shove down her gnawing annoyance at his casual dismissal. She’s certainly not going to get him to agree if she snaps at him or picks a fight, so she decides to try a different tactic instead, offering Eris a saccharine grin. “Your boyfriend will be there.”

“Azriel is not my boyfriend. We are merely fucking.”

“And the two of you can fuck surrounded by beautiful snowcapped mountains. Doesn’t that excite your big, gay heart?”

Eris’s answering chuckle is low, little more than a huff of air as he rolls his eyes. “Big, gay heart? Homophobic. And besides, you of all people should know I’m bi.” He turns his attention back to the mug of coffee sitting in front of him, and Nesta has to bite her tongue watching him stir and stir and stir, clearly intent on making her wait. “Speaking of bi, why don’t you just ask Emerie or Gwyn to go with you?”

Nesta sighs softly. “Emerie is spending the holiday with Cresseida and her family, and Merrill denied Gwyn’s PTO request, so you are my last option.”

‘“Last option?” Eris asks, raising a single manicured brow. “Your sweet words are really convincing me here.”

“Eris, please,” Nesta begs again, reaching across the table and clutching at his wrist. “I can’t face… I can’t face them alone.”

“Them? You mean the man you’re still hopelessly in love with?”

Nesta snatches her hands away with a scowl. “I am not–”

“Alright, fine. I’ll do it. But only because this is just sad to watch.”

Nesta rolls her eyes at the comment, but she is still grateful for his agreement. Ever since her youngest sister had first called her to extend the invite, for a long weekend celebration at Feyre’s fiancé’s vacation cabin in the mountains, dread had settled in Nesta’s stomach like a pit. And she’d been unable to shake it ever since. Because she knew. She knew that he would be there. And every time she thought of him, that dread only curled tighter still, twisting like a fist right through her chest, around her heart. It was silly, really. After all, a whole year has passed since she last saw him. And yet…

Nesta doesn’t think she’ll ever forget that night standing on the front step to the townhouse Feyre called home, Cassian’s hand clasped in her own. She hadn’t realized it then, what the way he held to her hand so tightly had meant, clutching at her as though he was desperate to keep her there. She had only felt confused. Confused by Feyre’s surprise when she opened the door. Confused by the almost bewildered look that took over her sister’s eyes when her gaze snagged on their joined hands. Confused by her sister’s clear recognition of the man stood beside her.

Confused by the apologetic look Cassian had shot her way.

“You two… know each other?”

“Of course, we know each other. Cassian is Rhys’s brother!”

Four simple words, and suddenly, everything had felt like it was crashing around Nesta. She’d stormed away, desperate to get out of there, desperate to get air into her lungs around the death grip squeezing them. She swore there was a weight pressing and dragging down her heart, swore there was a ringing in her ear, but it hadn’t been enough to drown out Cassian calling her name, to hide the broken plea she could hear in his voice.

She had hated it then, the way her heart had skipped a beat at the fact he chased after her. Traitorous thing. Perhaps her mother had been right to chastise her for reading too many fairy tales and romance novels. But the betrayal had cut deeper still.

She couldn’t help but think back to all those nights wrapped up in Cassian’s arms. Just the darkness of her bedroom and warm breath between them, Cassian’s fingers tracing light shapes and patterns across the freckles spattered along her shoulders. All those whispered words she’d shared with him. All those secrets she’d shared with him.

She can’t help but think of those nights now, of the warmth of him. The warmth that glints amongst the golds and greens of his hazel eyes. The comforting warmth of his laugh. The warmth of his body wrapped around her own.

She can’t help but think of the coldness that cracked through her chest like ice after that night on Feyre’s front porch.

It’s why even after a year, she’s still not sure she can face him. But at least it’s only for a single long weekend. At least now Eris will be there beside her. So how bad can it actually be?

~ * * * ~

Nesta practically throws her bag onto the bed of their guest room, sighing softly. She closes her eyes, desperately trying to center herself. She can feel her heart still thundering an unsteady beat between her ribs, still feels almost dizzy with how frayed her nerve endings are.

It’s unfair.

Unfair that Cassian still looks so good after all this time. She swears that his hair is longer somehow, just slightly, where it falls in soft curls around his shoulders, like he hasn’t gone for his usual trim just yet. He still seems to prefer the stubble that lines his cheeks and the strong line of his jaw. His eyes are still a mosaic of greens and golds and browns.

Nesta always thought his hazel eyes were the most beautiful thing she’d seen.

It’s unfair that his voice would still be as low and warm as Nesta remembers it, like a glass of whiskey where it curls around her limbs and floods her veins. And the way he says her name… it still sends a shiver skittering up her spine. She used to love listening to him talk. Used to love hearing him laugh.

“Well, that was awkward.”

Nesta scoffs and rolls her eyes, turning around to face Eris where he’s setting their remaining bags down. He hums as he looks around what will be their guest room for the weekend, a distasteful frown tugging at his lips.

“Your sister certainly has… rustic taste.”

“It’s a mountain cabin. What did you expect?” Nesta asks dryly. “Besides, you should see her and Rhysand’s house in the city. I wouldn’t call that rustic.”

Eris hums again, but before he can say anything else, bright, raucous laughter echoes from downstairs. Even from here, Nesta can recognize and pick out the owner of each laugh. She knows what’s waiting for her, knows what she’ll be walking into, but Nesta reminds herself that she’s here for her baby sister, for Feyre. And for just a few days, she can suck up dealing with her little family.

Suck up dealing with him.

She and Eris share a pointed look between them, and then they’re finally stepping out of the guest bedroom, following the laughter down the stairs and into the dining room on the main floor of the cabin. There’s various pizza boxes strewn across the dark wood of the table and even more bottles of wine. Nesta’s eyes instantly find Cassian’s in the room, as they always do, as they always seem to do, like the two of them are forever trapped in each other’s orbit. He’s sat at the far end of the table between Morrigan and Rhysand.

The dark green of the flannel he’s wearing is soft-looking beneath the dining room lights, the color bringing out the hazel of his eyes and complimenting his dark features. He has that easy, cocksure smile of his painted across his face, but as soon as Cassian’s gaze meets her own, it slips away, his throat working as he swallows hard.

“Nesta!” Feyre greets easily, drawing Nesta’s attention to her. “You’re just in time. Between Mor and Cassian, we’re down a whole bottle of wine already.”

As if to prove her point, Morrigan grabs one of the opened bottles of wine, refilling her glass. “It’s not my fault Rhysie only brings out the good bottles of wine on Solstice.”

“Here’s a thought,” Rhys offers, raising his own glass of wine to his lips. “You could always buy your own high-end wine.”

“Where would be the fun in that?”

“And sitting around this table drinking old bottles of wine is fun?” Azriel pipes up from the other end of the table.

Morrigan huffs, her brown eyes rolling at the dry remark. She tosses her blonde hair over her shoulder with drama and flair, pushing up to her feet. The look she sends down the table toward Azriel is pointed and withering, as she grabs two bottles of wine in one hand and her glass in the other.

“You want fun, then? Fine. Let’s go do fun.”

With that, she strides out of the dining room, everyone surprisingly getting to their feet and following after her with just a little grumbling. She leads them into the large living room. The wall of floor to ceiling windows along the far wall offer a faint view of the line of pine trees amongst the dark, the soft, white flakes that drift down toward the ground in swirls. The stone fireplace along the right wall already has a fire going in it, bathing the whole room and the solstice tree in the corner in flickering light. It’s cozy, and everyone finds space to get comfortable, Nesta finding herself squeezed onto one end of the love seat beside Eris, Azriel on the other end.

“Alright, Az,” Morrigan begins from where she’s claimed one of the armchairs, her legs thrown casually over the arm. “Truth or dare?”

Azriel sighs softly. “Truth.”

“Boring!” Morrigan turns her attention across the room. “Cassian, truth or dare?”

Cassian chuckles, leaning forward in his seat with a wicked grin, and even from where Nesta is sitting she can see the glint that flares through his hazel eyes. “Dare, of course.”

“That’s more like it. I dare you… to run around the cabin in the snow. Naked.”

There’s a cacophony of laughs and groans that echo through the room, including Cassian who tosses his head back with a loud laugh of his own. With a shrug, he pushes up and to his feet. He reaches for the buttons of his flannel, taking his time to undo each one. It’s somehow Nesta’s worst nightmare and dream all at the same time, watching inch after inch of golden brown skin being revealed. Slowly.

When the last button is finally undone, he shrugs out of the flannel completely, and Nesta almost wants to scoff. Of course, he still looks as good as she remembers. His chest and shoulders are still just as wide, his arms just as large and bulging when he raises them to make a big show of flexing and posing. Black lines of ink still curve and swirl across his collarbones, reaching down his chest and twisting down his arms, and Nesta has to take a moment to fight back the memories of tracing those exact tattoos in the quiet dark and safety of a king sized bed.

Has to fight back the memory of pressing her hand to the center of his chest until she could hear the steady beat of his heart just beneath her palm, the heart he promised would always beat just for her.

“Stop stalling and finish your dare!” Rhys calls out, Feyre giggling from her place perched across his lap.

Cassian holds up his hands in a placating gesture before reaching for his belt buckle, for where the dark hair of his happy trail vanishes beneath the waistband of his jeans. He makes quick work of undoing both, shoving his jeans down until the thick lines of his thighs and the cords of muscle there are on full display. The bright red of his boxers clings to the skin there, the tightness of them doing little to hide his large bulge.

“You know,” Eris mutters quietly from beside Nesta. “I definitely get it now.”

There’s an answering scoff to the remark, and it takes Nesta a moment too long to realize the sound did not in fact come from her. She blinks in surprise, leaning forward enough in her seat that she can glance toward the other end of the loveseat, to where Azriel sits with his lips twisted in a barely concealed scowl.

“That’s as close as you’re going to get,” Cassian declares, drawing Nesta’s attention back to him just in time to watch him pat his concealed cock. “We don’t want little Cassian getting frostbite from the snow.”

That comment earns only groans from around the room, Azriel even going so far as to throw a pillow at Cassian’s face. He laughs it off easily, tossing the pillow aside and heading for the front door of the cabin. Nesta casts her eyes up toward the ceiling, refusing to watch the way Cassian’s thighs work, the way the fabric of his boxers surely show off the shape of his ass, as he walks away, but she can hear the cheers and jeers of their family.

Only when she hears the snick of the door closing does Nesta look around again, daring to glance behind her toward the wall of windows. Morrigan scrambles out of her seat and toward those very windows, phone already in her hand to record the whole spectacle. Cassian’s little more than a blur as he runs past, but it’s clear his grin is wide, clear he’s laughing the whole way.

Cassian bursts back through the front door a moment later, shaking the snowflakes from his hair and still chuckling to himself. “Fuck me.”

“I cannot believe you just did that,” Feyre comments through her own laughter.

Cassian merely smirks and offers her a wink, grabbing a blanket and wrapping it tightly around himself before settling back into his spot on the sofa. “Now then…” He glances around the room, his attention lingering on Nesta long enough that her breath catches. “Eris, truth or dare?”

“Forgive me, but after that display, I think I’ll play it safe with truth,” Eris tells him.

Cassian hums, tilting his head as though he’s thinking hard about what to ask. “It’s only been a few hours, but has the family scared you off yet?”

“Oh, most definitely.”

“Sorry, Nes.”

Nesta tries to force herself to laugh along with everyone at Eris’s response, tries to force herself to laugh at Cassian’s teasing remark, but she can’t find it within herself to meet his gaze. He was always the only one she ever allowed to get away with that nickname. It was practically his nickname and his alone, memories of Cassian softly and fondly whispering that very name against her skin crashing through Nesta’s mind like storm waves. Still, she catches his expression out of the corner of her eye, the way he seems to catch himself. The way his face falls as the realization, the slip of the nickname, seems to truly sink in.

Cassian has always worn his heart so openly on his sleeve. It had unnerved Nesta at first when she met him, especially with the way she had always kept herself so guarded and protected. It was the reason the betrayal had cut so deep. And seeing it now, seeing the way his smile vanishes into a pinched press of lips, the way his hazel eyes seem to dim and dull, it has Nesta swallowing hard, has a tightness threading through her ribs and squeezing tight enough that it’s hard to breathe.

Can he feel it too?

“Is it my turn, then?” Eris asks, pulling Nesta from her thoughts. “Nesta?”

Nesta sighs through her nose. “Yes?”

“Truth or dare?”

Nesta has known Eris long enough to recognize the fire flickering in his amber eyes, to recognize the slight upturn of his lips that means he’s holding back a smirk. And she doesn’t miss the way his attention flicks toward Cassian before returning his gaze back to her own. It’s clear that he’s not above playing dirty, perhaps looking to get even for her convincing him to be here this weekend, and it’s clear that this game is about to get dangerous.

Nesta is going to kill him.

“Truth.”

It still feels like the wrong answer somehow based on Eris’s expression.

“Solstice is a time for reflection, is it not? So, what would you say is your biggest regret this year? Perhaps, a phone call you never made…?”

She’s definitely going to kill him.

“My biggest regret? It’s inviting you here this weekend.”

That and not grabbing a bottle of wine for herself off the dining room table earlier. She’s going to need wine to get through the rest of this evening. And even more wine to get through the rest of this weekend.

~ * * * ~

Cassian lets out a soft sigh, rolling over in the bed. The new position doesn’t help, and he sits up enough that he can give his pillow a good punch. But that doesn’t help either. Nothing helps because it’s his mind that’s the problem, the way his thoughts churn and churn like a choppy sea.

He had thought that merely seeing Nesta earlier in the day had been bad, but sitting in that living room with her had been worse. Being so close to her and yet still so far away was so so much worse. The firelight had reflected off the golden brown strands of her hair, the flickering flames catching on the pale freckles of her face, the freckles that Cassian knows are echoed more prominently across her shoulders.

He hated the space between them, the way it yawned and stretched like a threatening abyss. He shouldn’t have had to watch her from across the room. She should have been squeezed on the sofa with him, tucked securely beneath his arm. She should have been draped in one of his sweaters to fight off the chill, just as she always stole his clothes. He should have been able to turn his head to press his lips against the spot just behind her ear, to whisper teasing remarks about their family and the absurd game of truth or dare happening around them.

Instead, Cassian was forced to watch Nesta exchange teasing remarks and jabs with Eris. Watch the way she rolled her eyes at him. Watch the way they shared some sort of knowing look as they answered their truths. Watch the way it was the two of them squeezed together on that loveseat.

Huffing quietly again, Cassian rolls over onto his back, blinking up at the dark ceiling. He pulls himself up into a seated position, dragging his hands through his hair, down his face. The scrape of stubble against the palms of his hands helps to soothe him a little, but it’s clear he’s not getting to sleep any time soon.

He tosses the blankets off his legs and slips off the bed, padding across to the door and out of his room. The hall is as dark as the bedroom, and Cassian dares to pause just a few steps outside. Dares to stop just outside the door to the bedroom opposite his own. He tilts his head toward it, but all is quiet, no sound reaching him through the wood.

If he knocked, would it be enough to wake her? Would she be willing to speak with him? Would she even answer the door? Or would it be Eris…

Shaking his head, Cassian continues down the hall on quiet feet, not wanting to wake the rest of the cabin either. He heads down the stairs and toward the kitchen, intent on getting a glass of water or maybe something stronger from Rhys’s liquor stores. He pushes through the swinging door, hand reaching and finding the light switch along the wall with ease, flooding the whole room in soft, yellow light.

And his steps come to an abrupt, jerking halt.

Eris sits on the kitchen island, red hair mussed and the pale skin of his cheeks flushed almost the same shade of the strands. A fresh lovebite stands out against his throat, just low enough near his collarbones that the collar of his shirt currently pulled aside will most likely cover it come morning light. The hem of that same shirt is rucked up around his waist, a hand splayed against the freckled skin there.

A hand marred by a criss-cross of scars.

Because it’s Azriel standing between Eris’s spread thighs. Azriel with his lips connected with Eris’s own. Azriel with his hand shoved down the waistband of Eris’s pants. And it’s Azriel whose attention snaps to Cassian with a hiss from between his teeth at the sudden onslaught of light that flares around them.

“You know what? None of my business,” Cassian mutters, flicking the light back off and promptly turning on his heel.

He’s quick to move away from the kitchen, but once he safely reaches the front entryway, there’s no stopping the surprised laugh that bubbles past his lips. He’d thought his gaydar was bad when Mor came out to him, but somehow this feels worse. Suddenly, Azriel’s mood swings fluctuating more than they normally do these past weeks make more sense. Suddenly, Cassian’s feelings toward Nesta and Eris feel very very stupid.

Shaking his head at his own idiocy, Cassian turns back toward the stairs. He prepares to head back to his guest bedroom without anything to drink, ready to find some other way to help himself fall asleep, but he notices a light from the living room. Not the low glow he would expect from the dying embers of the fire, but an actual light on in the room. Curious, he creeps around the corner on soft feet, peering his head around.

In retrospect, he supposes he shouldn’t be surprised at the sight he finds waiting for him.

Nesta is curled up on the sofa, a book opened and perched on her raised knees. She’s changed since earlier, now dressed in an oversized tee and a pair of soft looking sleep pants. Cassian recognizes the grey fabric that hangs slightly off her frame, knows that faded blue letters across the front spell out Adriata Dance Team. She’s taken the pins from her hair, the golden brown strands falling in a soft braid down along her shoulder, and Cassian almost wants to mourn not getting to pull them free himself.

Almost wants to mourn her hair not being down and undone completely.

She has her fist curled up against her cheek, the other hand turning the page of her book, and for a moment, Cassian can do nothing but stare. She looks so soft, so relaxed. So unguarded. He always loved seeing her like this. Loved the way her lips would part when she would get to a particularly good part of the story. Loved the way her eyes would widen when there was a plot twist.

He used to love just laying in bed beside her while she read. He’d simply watch her, tracking every change in her expression until he could catalogue what every one meant. The bit lip that meant the love interest was confessing. The dip between her brows that meant the love interest was doing something stupid. The faintest hint of pink spilling across her cheeks that meant she got to the smutty part of the book.

Nesta lets out a quiet gasp, leaning forward in her seat and quickly turning the page again in her book, and Cassian doesn’t even bother swallowing back his smile, entranced by the way her blue eyes flit back and forth across the pages with excitement. He’s half tempted to squeeze into the space beside her on the sofa, to wrap his arms around her waist and settle his head on her chest. To ask her to read her book aloud, so that it’s her lilting voice and the steady beat of her heart that finally helps him to sleep.

“Just one more chapter?” Cassian asks, finally breaking the quiet and stepping out of the shadows.

Nesta’s whole body jerks in surprise at the sound of his voice. Her head snaps up, the sound of her book closing loud in the otherwise quiet room. Her eyes narrow on him, but Cassian doesn’t allow the look to deter him, stepping fully into the room.

“Did you get to the smutty part?”

Nesta huffs quietly, turning her attention to the book in her lap, fingers toying with the corner of the cover. “Actually, they haven’t even kissed yet. Historical romances are all about the tension, after all.”

Tell me about it. The words sit on the tip of Cassian’s tongue, but he swallows them down hard. He could listen for hours to her telling him all about her current read. Could tease her for hours. But that was before.

“No wonder you’re up late still reading, then,” he says instead.

“I’m up late still reading because my guest room for the weekend is currently occupied.” Nesta sighs softly, her lips twisting into that adorable scowl of hers, her next words little more than a quiet mutter. “Doesn’t Azriel have his own he can use?”

Cassian chuckles softly. “Actually, Az got sequestered to the pull-out sofa in the basement. The cabin doesn’t have as many bedrooms as you think.”

“You got a bedroom.”

“Yeah…”

Cassian knows that he should tell Nesta that Azriel and Eris are actually in the kitchen, that there’s no longer anything keeping her from retreating to her own guest bedroom. He knows that he should turn and walk away, return to his own bedroom. He knows that he and Nesta should bid each other good night and leave it at just that.

But if there’s one thing that’s always been true, it’s that when it comes to Nesta Archeron, Cassian has never been particularly smart.

“You can crash in my room if you want.”

Nesta merely blinks at him for a few moments, as though she can’t quite wrap her mind around the offer, can’t quite believe the words he just spoke, but Cassian can see the exact moment they truly land.

“Cassian–”

“Totally platonically. No funny business, just somewhere to sleep. I promise,” Cassian jumps in to add, making a big show of crossing his heart and giving her his best puppy dog eyes.

Nesta rolls her eyes, and it’s so natural, so familiar. She always said she hated when he gave her that face, always said it was impossible to say no when he gave her that look. And Cauldron save him, he can’t help but pray that’s still true.

“Come on. We both know that Rhys chose the furniture here because it’s stylish, not because it’s comfortable. Do you really want to sleep down here?”

Nesta sighs softly, but she pushes to her feet, her eyes narrowing on Cassian. “Fine, but only because I’m exhausted.”

Cassian has to press his lips together tightly to keep from smiling, but there’s no stopping the way his heart trips over itself between his ribs. He gestures with his hand for Nesta to lead the way, following her back up the stairs and down the hall to his open bedroom door. Once they both step inside, Cassian shuts the door quietly behind them, taking a moment to close his eyes and breathe before he turns back around again.

Of course, Nesta has wasted no time padding across the room and toward the bed, setting her book down on the small nightstand. Even through the darkness, he can spy the slightly frayed edges of the white ribbon she favors to mark her place peeking out from between the pages. How many times had he found stacks of books with white ribbons at his apartment back when they were still together?

Nesta settles on the left side of the bed, clearly still her side, and tugs back the blankets enough that she can slip beneath them. Determined not to stare, not to get caught staring, Cassian moves to the other side of the bed. He slips beneath the blankets as well, taking a moment to get comfortable before settling on his side facing Nesta.

He hates that she has his back to him. Hates that her hair isn’t fanned out across the pillow and that he can’t run his fingers through it. Hates that despite the fact she’s laying down, he can still see the tense line of her shoulders and that he can’t slide his fingertips along the steel line of her spine to soothe her. Hates the stretching expanse of distance between them being as physical as it is emotional with the way Nesta has moved to the very edge of the bed.

“Did you want to build a pillow wall too?”

“Fuck off,” Nesta tells him, her voice clipped despite the teasing tone of his own. “I thought you said no funny business and sleeping only?”

“Pretty sure you have to relax to actually sleep,” Cassian continues, daring to scooch closer to her. “Did you forget that I’ve already seen you naked?” Nesta kicks her leg back, directly into Cassian’s shin, and he lets out a hiss from between his teeth at the contact. “I see your feet are still always freezing cold.”

“That’s what you get.”

She says it so haughtily, with such finality, that Cassian can’t help but laugh, quiet and soft in the dark of the bedroom. He doesn’t even care that Nesta’s cold toes are still pressed against his legs. All he cares about is that the tension in Nesta’s body has finally unwound.

All he cares about is that she’s here with him, even if it’s not quite how he wants.

He always slept best with Nesta in his bed. He could never quite pinpoint exactly what it was, the soothing lullaby of her even breathing, the reassuring warmth of having her in his arms, the comforting familiarity of her vanilla body wash and lily scented perfume. Hell, maybe it was just Nesta. But whatever it was, Cassian always fell asleep with ease, always slept well and deep, with Nesta by his side.

Even now, Cassian can already feel the way his mind has started to calm, his muscles loosening and eyes growing heavy. It’s almost too easy to give in to the weight of sleep’s embrace, his hand stretching across the mattress until his fingertips are a breadth away from Nesta, reminding himself, reassuring himself, that she’s really there. Even if it’s just for now.

—

2025 tag list (let me know if you want to be added or removed; bolded names mean Tumblr won’t let me tag you 🥲): @moodymelanist @sv0430 @bookstantrash @hiimheresworld @sweet-pea1 @emeriethevalkyriegirl @pyxxie @dustjacketmusings @hallway5 @glowing-stick-generation @goddess-aelin @melphss @a-trifling-matter @blueunoias @wolfnesta @jmoonjones @burningsnowleopard @whyisaravenlike-awritingdesk @that-little-red-head @kale-theteaqueen @superflurry @lady-winter-sunrise @freakingata @susanbanarchy @jsmelodies @unhealthyfanobsession @presskmewleroux @nativeswfl @livinforthetea @dying-of-wanderlust @berkskc @the-new-ribbon @underneath-the-sidras @deadandsane

[stargirlie25]

Me having a conversation with an e/riel. Feel free to fact check by looking at the books.

Me: Why do you ship Elain and Azriel?

E/riel: Well for starters, he was the only one to go save Elain when she was in hybern.

Me: First of all, Cassian offered first. Second of all Feyre was also there and saved her (what Elain said)

E/riel: Ok but still it was romantic

Me: But it was not. Because her sister ALSO saved her :) Feyre went to UTM and got tortured,SAed,killed people and died all for Tamlin anyhow...

E/riel: Well Madja said a mate knows whats wrong with their own mate and Az figured out that Elain was a seer.

Me: Elain being a Seer was not what was wrong with her. Also Rhysand figured out Nestas power.

E/riel: Az gave Elain truthteller when he had given it to no one ever.

Me: Only because Mor begged him with tears in her eyes to stay back. Cassian offered her first (again) and then Az offered her TT bc he would not have to use it. Not to mention, Elain only took it when Feyre assured her she would not have to use it. She gave it back without a glance

E/riel: Well Feyre imagined Elain and Az as ´´Death and his lovely fawn´´

Me: Okay. Well did you also catch when she said TT is the only connection between them? Not to mention something admirable about Elain is that she is always full of light. What literally takes away Light? Darkness=Azriel. Not to mention, Azriel is death and his home sucks the life from Elain. Not that Feyres aesthetic painting mind matters anything to me :)

E/riel: What about the fact that Lucien thought Elain was crazy?

Me: What about the fact when he travelled all around to find somebody on a quest so dangerous and the only confirmation he got was from Elain?

E/riel: Elain was wearing Cobalt blue the first time she met Az.

Me: Considering Elains devotion to Graysen, there is a high chance of her wearing that color for Graysen because his crest is cobalt blue. Even if its not true, Lucien wears a coat that´s fawn brown (exact same shade of Elains eyes)

E/riel: A smile and blush bloomed on Azriel in regards to Elain.

Me: Dont care. Thats just an action. Although since you say that, did you know that a smile bloomed on Elains face after her father died (who she loved dearly) in regards to Lucien?

E/riel: What about when a charged glance went through Elain and Azriel.

Me: Sexual attraction. Lots of characters have it like Feyre and tamlin,Aelin and Chaol,Azriel to Mor....

E/riel: Well, Azriel jacks off to Elain every night while looking at the gift he got for her.

Me: Dont be shy you dont have to say a gift. You can say he jacks off to headache powder. No problem. Almost like when Nesta slept with multiple men. Trust me, that does not affect me!

E/riel: Elriel is true mates because Az was the only one to smell Eluciens bond.

Me: Bryce smelled Nessians bound, Ruhn and Lidia smelled bryce and hunts bond, Tamlin smelled feysands.

E/riel: Gwyn is a lightsinger because Az chest sparked because of her.

Me: Well than ig Lidia and Bryce are lightsingers too. Get those evil bitches away from Hunt and Ruhn right?

E/riel: There is nothing romantic for Gwynriel

Me: Thats literally just your penny for thought. Why would i care when SJM provided common banter, mate language and history for Gwynriel, and scenes where they challenge each other when she said history,sparks,conflict,and challenge all makes a good couple.

E/riel: Elain gave two gifts to Az. Not lucien

Me: Headphones for Az bc Nesta and Cass fuck so loud? So romantic i cant! Im so glad my girl SJM is saving the good,meaningful gifts for Elucien.

E/riel: Az waited for Elain to come to the table and told everybody to not eat until Elain came back.

Me: he was thinking of his mother being a slave. Thats what the situation of eating when Elain was tending to everyone reminded him of. How his mother was treated. Its not romantic but it is a very sad thing to think about.

E/riel: Azriel loves Elain. He only has not thought about a future with her because he does not allow himself to!

Me: Honestly i don´t mind that you think that! Although that is not canon. Sleeping with Elain is the only thoughts he PLEASURED himself to. Not allowed himself as some say. Again, that´s just your penny for thought. He says ´´He hadn't gone that far with his planning´´ Meaning sexual thoughts is fine but anything further is like nope, nope,nope,nope,nope too far.

E/riel: Elain literally loses her newfound boldness around Lucien.

Me: There is so many more reasons that we could come up with than what meets the eye. Have you considered it was because she didnt know what to do. Or she saw the look on Lucien ´ s face and shrank because she did not intentionally cause it and felt bad? Or maybe she FELT Luciens pain and shared it because of the bond? So much possibilities to think of especially considering we have limited text and not the actual characters POV. Also i wonder how far she will shrink when she finds out about Az and Rhysands conversation in the bonus chapter. Or maybe she heard it already?

E/riel: Azriel actually gets Elain.

Me: The way he literally does not though! When Elain begs the IC not to kill graysen Az says its best for him to be killed in acosf. When Elain says nesta cant make choices for her and then Az says she should not be exposed to the innate darkness even though later we figure out Elain is willing? When Elain says she is not a child to be fought over and than Az says he will defeat Lucien in a blood duel with her?

E/riel: Scrying is dangerous! Of course Azriel did not want her too.

Me: Yet, he said ´´Nesta really should do scrying´´ but not Elain because he underestimates her. Which is the ONLY thing SJM provides to what Az could have been doing.

E/riel: Azriel listened to Elains laugh probably because he loves the sound!

Me: Maybe its because Elain never ever laughs like that around him or the ic He was literally monitoring them which means to keep tabs on someone which directly relates to his fricking job 😂. So many words to choose from and SJM chose monitoring.

E/riel: Az gave Elain a rose necklace.

Me: Ok and? Elain gave it back. She does not want that shit. He gave it to another person. It felt wrong to clasp it around Elains neck but it sparked something in his chest and made him smile for Gwyn.

E/riel: Lucien only sees Elain for his mate but Azriel sees her for her.

Me: Nope. His reason for wanting to kiss Elain was simply ´´What fi the cauldron was wrong´´ and refers to Elain as the 3rd. She is literally a theory or more so a possibility to him. One he has not thought through in the slightest. Also, Lucien was going crazy in hybern in regards to Elain before he knew of their bond AND Elain has not accepted the bond yet he still cares for her.

E/riel: Elain called Azriels scars beautiful.

Me: first of all, its a 50% chance she called his scars beautiful. Feyre said she was not sure which one she was complimenting, the scars, or the big glowing cobalt siphon atop his hand. Second of all, even if it was 100% fact that she said his scars specifically was beautiful, it seems he does not believe it at all. He tries to not to look at his hands. He does not want to taint her with his presence or touch her beautiful skin with his scars.

E/riel: His shadows vanish around Elain and lightens. They also do that around mor who he was in love with for 500 years. Also his shadows are like snakes ready to strike in regards to Elain.

Me: Shadows lighting and vanishing are the same thing. Light takes away darkness as darkness takes away light (another reason why they are horrible together) His shadows are losing its darkness around Elain and Mor. Mor was wrong for him. The amount of pain it caused him to be in Love with her? Want that to continue with Elain and Az? Azriel does not need his darkness to be hidden. He needs it to be embraced *insert Gwyn*

E/riel: SJM would never pass on a good angsty trope like forbidden love!

Me: firstly, the only thing forbidding e/riel is Elain herself. If she rejects the bond, she can be with Az all she wants and NO ONE has a say on that. Not Rhysand. Not feyre. Not cassian. Not Lucien himself. Although she hasnt after 2 years. There is an answer to why. Its not like Elain knows she has to wait until her own book to reject it. Second of all, Forbidden love is the absolute WORST trope to give BOTH of them. For Elain, she has always hid in the shadows of her sisters in the series and the fandom. You really think Elain Archeron always full of light wants to hide in the darkness and play out Azriel´s fantasies? As for Azriel, he has been secretly silently in PAIN loving Mor for 500 years. So you want him to go through it again with Elain? No. He wants the bond nessian and feysand have. The love they share. The joy of being with your equal. The connection of a mating bond. Being proud to showcase it to the world. Forbidden love would just tear them apart.

E/riel: SJM does not write about virgin romances! Plus Gwyn is a virgin!

Me: Yes she can. Gwyn already lost her virginity against her will so biologically she is not going through the bleeding and the actual losing her physical virginity. Although it is a fact she has never slept with someone. The scene where Cassian *ahem* first enters nesta is very descriptive and SJM describes the pain of Cassian entering her......So yes she can for sure write about Gwyn having sex. This is also goes against the statement that Gwyn cant have sex because of her trauma. False. She is interested in romance books and asks Nesta if the sex was good. I think Gwyn would enjoy sex with someone she trusts in and out.

[elainsgirl]

I just realized how ridiculous this whole ship war is. We don’t have any solid proof about how any of these characters feel. We don’t know if Gwyn likes Azriel. We don’t know what Elain thinks of Lucien, or what Lucien thinks of Elain. We have no idea what Elain feels about Azriel. The only thing we actually know for sure is how Azriel feels about Elain — that’s it. We’ve barely seen inside Azriel’s head, yet everyone is jumping to conclusions and assuming the worst. People are making up wild theories and fighting like children, even though we don’t have any of these characters’ POVs yet. It’s honestly insane. The one thing we do know is that there’s clearly something going on between Azriel and Elain — that’s been obvious for a while. It was always going to happen as we read through the books. I’m not saying nothing could happen between Elain and Lucien — it could — but right now, it’s just Azriel, Lucien, and Elain. That’s all we have to work with! So people need to stop adding all this unnecessary drama to a story we all know is headed in one direction. It’s honestly sad to watch so many people convince themselves that the stuff they’re making up could actually happen. Did anyone seriously think Azriel was getting a book next, or even Gwyn? Come on.

Let’s talk about the complete lack of reading comprehension in this fandom. How can people seriously think Azriel is some F-boy who only cares about sex? It’s honestly wild how much people have assumed the worst about him. I read that bonus chapter, and when I saw the reactions, I was genuinely shocked. Where are people getting all of that from? I actually understood Azriel’s point of view, even if it wasn’t worded perfectly. And don’t get me started on the Elain hate. Yes, she’s quiet, and sure, some people find her boring, but Azriel is the exact same way and no one’s coming after him for it. People hated Nesta too, but after her book, most fans either like her or at least respect her. So why isn’t Elain getting the same treatment? This fandom is so hypocritical, it’s honestly unbelievable.

This whole shipwar was ridiculous 4 years ago when it first started.

Whilst I slightly disagree with your point about not knowing how elain/lucien/az fully feel - as there are concrete hintd and buildup to display their feelings, I fully agree w people jumping to the worst conclusions about Azriel just because of his bonus

Just because he confirmed he was in fact attracted to Elain and Elain attracted to him despite her mate being “lucien. Just because he questioned the bond exactly like how Feyre did.

the bonus really just proved that a lot of people have selective reading comprehension.

The “love triangle” has ALWAYS been between Lucien, Elain and Azriel. Its not even a love triangle at this point, as Elain isn’t torn between Lucien or Az. Putting that aside - poor Gwyns character has just been dragged into this situation by her “stans” despite the fact she showed 0 interest in Azriel - as a way to be the perfect love interest for Azriel. Everything Elain is not. Bcs Elain is hated & flawed whilst Gwyn is loved and perfect.

And yh sure. Anyone can sit back and say, “the books can go in any direction” - but thats willfully ignoring Sjms foreshadowing, clues and the very clear direction the books are going in. What antis don’t understand is - in this point of the story - not “anything” can happen. Sjm has set herself a clear arc with an obvious ship and all im going to say is - its not the ship where the two characters can’t even stand to be around each other.

I said this before - antis need to stop inserting their interpretations/opinions into canon. For example, Eluciens saying Elain shrinking back from Lucien is bcs he gets her all bothered and attracted to him, their evidence? Some characters find Lucien attractive so how can Elain not find him attractive and bcs she does it makes her uncomfortable that she wants him soo badly. THAT is the definition if inserting YOUR opinion onto CANON when its not backed up by the text. Just cause Lucien stans find him to be the most handsome doesn’t mean Elain does. Eluciens know elucien isnt a deep couple. Its surface level hence why they have to make up all this “lore” and “drama” about them which at a point gets embarrassing.

The fact that a quarter of this fandom genuinely believe a secondary character we JUST met will get a book before an ARCHERON sister who was one of the MAIN side characters in the og series is just…funny and unbelievable. “Oh but Gwyn appeared sm in acosf!” Omfg didn’t acomaf, acowar and even acofad focused on Mor yet was her book next? No it wad Elains and they LOVE saying that Gwyn appeared in ONE bonus therefore she is the next protagonist yet remain quiet when you tell them Elain appeared in TWO bonuses where she was focused on for some of it. TWO.

I think for me is the fact that antis - both Gwynriels and Eluciens - have twisted Az to be this disgusting, disrespectful and toxic male as a way to not ship elriel YET turn around and ship him with Gwyn? The way they make Az sound is so icky and abusive yet with Gwyn he’s an absolute angel? With the way antis have turned Az to be - the way they believe him to be, if any of it was true, he would not be a Li. That is NOT how an author would want you to perceive one of their love interests.

You know what it comes down too? Even if they pretend its not true, I will die on this hill, they see Elain as someone weak and meek, someone who won’t ever be able to handle Az and his toxic ways. Whereas with Gwyn, their perfect little mermaid will “challenge”, change and heal him bcs she is stronger. She is better then weak little Elain. That is what it comes down too, even w elucien stans - Elain is Luciens arm candy. His prize for the suffering he has endured. Someone to be pretty and there for him whilst he conquers and rules.

I got a little sidetracked / Yes. I think any normal person with nothing against Elain or a weird obsession with Lucien understood where Az was coming from and immediately linked it back to Feyres musings in acowar. Could Az have worded it better? 100%. But its not like he had any time to prepare. He was reeling, put on the spot, just hurt his crushes’ feelings and confused. But you got the gist of what he meant.

This fandom goes through a cycle and just never learns.

People hated Nesta -> hated Nessian cause Cass deserves better -> Cass interacted w Emerie? Some believed they’d be a couple -> Acosf released, Nesta lovers rose to the top and people loved Nessian until HOFAS

Elain is currently hated but more then Nesta bcs of ✨ misogyny ✨ -> “Azriel deserves better” -> Lucien deserves to be happy w his mate -> elucien/Gwynriel -> elriel book announced and then BOOM people will love elriel and love Elain and claim to be exactly like her,

I think at a point, after spending so long in this fandom. It just becomes funny and infuriating. I think its why you should alwYs find you safe places in this fandom. People you can go and rant, talk theories, opinions with etc. it makes the. Fandom so much better when you have someone in your camp understanding how you feel and in the same boat as you.

[fourteentrout]

ACOTAR tag game 💕

thanks for tagging me @mathiwrites ! I don't normally do these even when tagged because i never know who to tag, a lot of times everyone i think of is already tagged LOL, but i figured id start today!

I don't think I've seen one around, and figured this might be fun to do!

Answer the questions below & tag whoever you want, or make it an open tag!!

Who's your favourite ACOTAR character?

My boy tamlin!!

Who's your least favourite character?

Hm....hmmmm...oh Amren for sure.

Say something nice about your least favourite character.

She has a cool character concept and i thought it was really sweet and endearing when she gave feyre the bracelet (necklace?) to help her get through the Prison trip without panicking

Who's your favourite High Lord? (If you picked one for your fav character, then who's your second fav!)

Oooh hm not to be a copycat but I loved tarquin from the moment he was introduced, he was an instant fav and i was kind of sad that he didn't have more involvement later on that didn't have to do with the whole feyre and rhys betraying his trust thing

Favourite MINOR character?

ooh i dont know if this is minor enough but i've come to really like jurian. i didn't really have much of an opinion on him for most of the series and then for some reason in silver flames when he was in it for like 2 seconds i was like wait a minute why haven't i been more into this guy he kinda fucks

Favourite ship? (Crackships included!)

tamsand by far. though azris is becoming a close second.

Favourite court and why?

well i loved the spring court aesthetic from the first book, but at this point in the series I think I'd say maybe actually dawn. it just sounded so pretty, and i think it would be one of the subtler, less overwhelming courts while still being awe-inspiring.

Make up a brand new court RIGHT NOW, NO PREP JUST VIBES.

oh shoot um okay court of clouds?? people who specialize in wind manipulation, likely populated by a race related to the Peregryns or Drakon's race? an actual cloud court like in the sky could be a vibe I think. perhaps it would be more removed from the politics of prythian--they'd still have a High Lord, but maybe it would be more of a military government or something.

What relationship would you have wanted to see more of in the books?

oh wow i mean i am always here for more rhys and tamlin content obviously, but i would have also loved to see more of like stories and stuff about the sentries from the spring court that went over the wall, like Andras. andras and lucien's relationship in particular would be one I would have liked to know more about. I also really want to see Azriel and his mom.

What's your unpopular opinion?

god what ISN'T my unpopular opinion. hm. i think feyre's whole reasoning for wanting a baby out of seemingly nowhere is dumb. like i get it, yolo, life can be cut short, but like i really do not feel like she picked a good time to have a baby, nor do i think she is remotely ready to be a mother. when she realized she wanted kids in acofas, it wasn't a strong enough argument for me to actually like get behind her decision.

What's your favourite headcanon/fan canon?

omg i have so many I literally started a list lol. the first one on it is kind of silly, it's that Helion is actually the faerie romance author sellyn drake that nesta, emerie, and gwyn like

If you were swept away to Prythian, what's ONE thing you would want to do?

go to a festival! not necessarily something as crazy as calanmai, but i would love to go to some sort of celebration. maybe starfall?

If you could have ONE faerie ability seen in the books, which would it be?

shapeshifting without a doubt

thanks again for the tag! ill tag @cheap-spirits @achaotichuman @thedickgraysons @wingsdippedingold @hugevanserrass @lady-of-sevenwaters @the-darkestminds @msbrownwithacrown @tamlinsnailtech and anyone else who wants to contribute!! if were mutuals and i didnt tag u im sorry i tried to think of as many as possible LOL but yeah definitely feel free to contribute if you want to! this was fun

[emsprovisions]

❄️ Day 23 - Yearly Traditions ❄️

🎁 Today's fic is dedicated to @ladytessa74

Summary: A teenaged TK enjoys his Hanukkah tradition of making latkes and sufganiyot with his mom.

Word count: 1121

24 Days of Tarlos Masterpost

Seventeen year-old TK is curled up into the corner of the couch in the living room of his mom’s Manhattan high rise. He has his iPhone 4 in hand, playing FarmVille on Facebook while the tv drones on at a low volume in the background. He’s content for the time being, trying to ignore his growing crush on Lewis Doty in theatre and the anxiety that has been worsening the closer he gets to graduation. 

He’s still only a junior, but college applications are starting to come in, and pressure to take the SAT is weighing down on him, and TK’s a little worried his mom won’t like that he doesn’t want to follow her footsteps into law school. 

For the time being, he doesn’t think about any of that as Gwyn comes in through the door with a couple bags of groceries and her warmest smile. She sets the bags on the entry table to remove her coat and looks at her son. “Ready to get to work?”

TK smiles up at his mom and shuts off his phone with a nod. “Ready.”

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, and TK and Gwyn are keeping up with their tradition of making latkes and sufganiyot to enjoy.

TK washes his hands and pushes up the sleeves of his hoodie, as his mom puts him to work peeling and shredding potatoes. 

TK loves this tradition with his mom. Making latkes and sufganiyot every Hanukkah has been something he’s looked forward to every year since he was a kid. They work side by side, music playing through the speaker in the kitchen, laughing together. 

TK ends up telling his mom about Lewis Doty and how he’s in the spring production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Gwyn listens, asking what Lewis is like and commenting that he sounds nicer than TK’s ex-boyfriend who broke his heart over the summer.

“He’s so sweet, mom,” TK just grins. “But I don’t think he’s even noticed me.”

“As popular as you are?” Gwyn laughs, quirking a brow at her son. 

“Being in a lot of sports and theatre doesn’t immediately make me popular, mom. A lot of people do both,” TK rolls his eyes.

“I know, I know,” Gwyn chuckles lightly. “Don’t forget to rinse and drain those potatoes, honey.”

“Come on, mom, I could make these with my eyes closed,” TK laughs.

They continue working together, TK on latke prep, Gwyn on sufganiyot prep and then stand side by side at the stove, two pots with oil heating up. 

TK leans impatiently against the counter. “The waiting is always the worst part of this.”

Gwyn just laughs softly. “My impatient boy.”

“It’s just the ADHD,” TK grins. 

“So, have you thought anymore about where you might like to start applying?” Gwyn asks, bringing up the subject of college gently as she knows it's a touchy subject with her teenage son.

TK stares down at the oil in his pan, checking the temperature on it before scooping some latke batter and dropping it in, worrying at his lip.

“I don’t think I want to go to college, mom,” he admits softly.

Gwyn tilts her head. “You don’t?”

TK shakes his head.

“Why not?”

TK chances a glance up at his mom, searching her face for any hint at how she’s taking this. With a deep breath, he finds the courage to tell her, “I want to be a firefighter.”

“Like your father,” Gwyn sighs, her shoulders dropping a bit.

“You’re disappointed.”

“No, honey,” Gwyn shakes her head with a sad smile. “I just don’t want you to end up like him.”

“I’m not going to,” TK insists. “I don’t want to be a firefighter because of dad, and honestly I kinda hated that I want to go into that same career, but Enzo convinced me–”

“You talked to Enzo about this before me?” Gwyn frowns.

“I just wanted some fatherly advice, mom,” TK shakes his head. “Obviously if I asked dad, he’d be all over the idea. You’re biased. I needed someone who could tell me like it is.”

“And what exactly did Enzo tell you?”

“He told me that everyone will think I’m following in my dad’s footsteps if I become a firefighter, regardless of my actual intentions,” TK explains, poking at one of the latkes with a slotted spoon to test if it was ready to flip over. In a smaller voice, TK says, “Then he convinced me dad’s not so bad of a man to follow.”

“No? Abandoning his family doesn’t make him bad?” Gwyn asks, skepticism in her voice.

“I know what he did sucks, okay!” TK huffs. “It’s just, he’s a hero too. And that’s all I wanna be, mom. I want to help people and I don’t think I’m cut out for more school. And unlike dad, I don’t need the recognition that I did something good. I just want to do good.”

“Hey,” Gwyn pauses after flipping her sufganiyot so they can cook on the other side, and reaches for TK. “If you want to be a firefighter, I’ll support you. There is nothing you could do that won’t make me proud, TK.”

TK just scoffs as his mom pulls him into her arms like he’s seven and not seventeen and taller than her. He’s also quite certain she’s wrong about that, he knows his mother would be disappointed if she ever found out he’s been getting high with some of his friends.

However, despite his teenage angst, TK can admit the hug from his mom feels nice. That he needed it. He sighs as he relaxes, resting his head against her shoulder.

“Sure you’re not mad I don’t want to be a lawyer?”

“I’m sure,” Gwyn laughs softly. “You are going to be incredible no matter what you do with your life.”

Later, TK curls up next to his mom on the couch, Mr. and Mrs. Smith popped into the dvd player, his plate piled high with latkes and some rotisserie chicken that Gwyn got at the store. He likes his latkes with ketchup, and it’s become their playful argument every year, Gwyn scolding him and shaking her head as she tops hers with the traditional applesauce. There’s fresh sufganiyot, warm and dusted in powdered sugar on the counter for dessert and they’ve already lit the first candle on their menorah. 

TK is happy as he tucks his head against his mom’s shoulder while they watch their movie, dipping a latke in ketchup, his eyes practically glued to Brad Pitt every time he’s onscreen.

“Chag sameach, mom,” TK looks up at his mom with a smile.

Gwyn kisses the top of his head. “Chag sameach, my sweet boy.”