#Luke is still Rhae's unofficial favorite child and Aemond Ali's but it is also partially bc of how much they remind the women of the other

[sunhazeheart]

Cue older 'honey and wildfire' Alicent feeling a deep, wholly irrational but still seething jealously when watching Rhaenyra and laena interact and bonding one time Laena, Daemon and the twins finally come come out of Daemon's exile (self-imposed this time) in Pentos.

Like, she and Rhae have basically been wives in everything but name with seven kids and one gay beard husband between them for nearly ten years, but she watches Laena and rhaenyra walking arm in arm in the gardens (a la Rhae watching Laena and Vizzy years ago), laughing and close.

She knows it's foolish of her, but it comes from a place of insecurity, an emotion she can't control. Because Laena is a beautiful valyrian women, almost as pretty as she is kind and gracious, and she can bond over dragons and other things Alicent can't share with Rhaenyra.

She's staring into her mirror before readying for bed, comparing silver braids to her over "plain" hair or scrutinizing the signs of lines beneath her eyes that the younger girl doesn't have. Just reverting back into feelings of inadequacy she hasn't felt in a while despite being surrounded by the otherworldliness of her family around her.

Then Rhaenyra slips into 'their' rooms as has long been their routine for years, and prods at the mood the queen has been in the past two days since her uncle had returned. enter stage, teasing resulting in something snappy, then comforting, and Rhaenyra reminding Alicent just how much she loves her and how beautiful she is then tied with a neat bow on top with scissoring to really hammer it in.