#and i am interested but i am still shy about it

[jasmineandcedar]

“I won’t be using it today—so I want you to.”

I was re-reading ACOWAR and a thought hit me as I once again saw Azriel give Elain Truth-Teller.

What hit me, perhaps harder than before, is the difference between Cassian and Azriel’s offers. What is it to offer someone your wants? That is what I’ll explore in this post.

[Just before the great battle, Cassian hands Elain a knife] She refused the knife Cassian handed her, though. Went white as death at the sight of it. Azriel, still limping, merely nudged aside Cassian and extended another option. “This is Truth-Teller,” he told her softly. “I won’t be using it today—so I want you to.”

(I know there are some very interesting theories about this event, and I am sure it will be revisited in Elain’s book. There are many unanswered questions about how Elain managed to get to the King of Hybern, whether she can wield Truth-Teller, and all that. But in this post, I will simply be assessing what is happening here in quite a literal sense. So, without going into more overarching theorizing, I want to explore the choice to depict Elain as being given two options, and to depict her giving very different responses to them. How can this be interpreted?)

There are two material options presented to Elain - the two knives.

There are two different gifters offering their knives to Elain - Cassian and Azriel.

There are two different ways in which the knives are gifted. One knife is “handed” to Elain. The other – Azriel extends her the knife and softly says: “This is Truth-Teller, I won’t be using it today—so I want you to.” Azriel, who never expresses a want of his, offers her his wants.

What is it to gift someone something and say “I want you to use this” as opposed to hand someone something. It's an added layer of vulnerability. If the gift is rejected, it is a rejection not only of the knife itself, but a rejection of the gifter’s wants. It is to not acknowledge the gifter’s wants as wants you care to fulfil.

Remember, Elain has also already rejected to use a knife. Going “white as death” as she rejected it. Azriel is not offering her anything new in a material sense. It is true that Truth-Teller has magical abilities, but as Elain states – she doesn’t know how to use it (at least she doesn’t think she knows at this moment). It is in a material sense only another knife. And another gifter. And the difference in Azriel’s offer is him offering his wants.

By now they have spent a lot of time together. In ACOWAR, Azriel probably spends more time with Elain than any other member of the Inner Circle. He saw her when everyone thought her mad.

[Azriel discovers Elain is a seer] “She doesn’t need anything,” Azriel answered without so much as looking at Lucien. Elain was staring at the spymaster now—unblinkingly. “We’re the ones who need …” Azriel trailed off. “A seer,” he said, more to himself than us. “The Cauldron made you a seer.”

He took her to the garden, when what she wanted was sunshine.

[Azriel flies Elain to the town house] Azriel arrived first, no shadows to be seen, my sister a pale, golden mass in his arms. He, too, wore his Illyrian armor, Elain’s golden-brown hair snagging in some of the black scales across his chest and shoulders. He set her down gently on the foyer carpet, having carried her in through the front door. Elain peered up at his patient, solemn face. Azriel smiled faintly. “Would you like me to show you the garden?” She seemed so small before him, so fragile compared to the scales of his fighting leathers, the breadth of his shoulders. The wings peeking over them. But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away as she nodded—just once. Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm. I couldn’t tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, “Beautiful.” Color bloomed high on Azriel’s golden-brown cheeks, but he inclined his head in thanks and led my sister toward the back doors into the garden, sunlight bathing them (ACOWAR).

[Azriel takes Elain to the garden again] Cassian’s dark brows narrowed. I dragged a hand over my face before going to Elain and touching her too-bony shoulder. “Can I set you up in the garden? The herbs you planted are coming in nicely.” “I can help her,” said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. No shadows at his ear, no darkness ringing his fingers as he extended a hand. Nesta monitored him like a hawk, but kept silent as Elain took his hand, and out they went. (ACOWAR)

He came for her when she was taken to the Hybern camp.

[Elain’s rescue] Azriel’s power gave out on the outskirts of our camp. The girl, despite the burns and lashings on her moon-white skin, was able to walk. The gray light of morning had broken over the world, mist clinging to our ankles as we headed into that camp, Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest. He dripped blood behind him the entire time—a trickle compared to the torrent that should be leaking out. Contained only by the patches of power he’d slapped on it. Help—he needed a healer immediately. […] Rhys lunged for Azriel, taking Elain from him and gently setting my sister down. Azriel rasped, swaying on his feet, “We need Helion to get these chains off her.” Yet Elain didn’t seem to notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsinger’s cheek.

He’s been gentle, attentive, and caring towards her. And Elain, she’s never shied away from him and has been equally gentle and kind towards him.

We know that by now they both have romantic feelings for each other.

But what, already then, had developed between them that made Azriel sure enough to assume that Elain would not reject him when he offered her his wants, after she had already rejected the use of a knife once? Again, going "white as death" as she rejected it. Perhaps he must have known there was something in him telling her he wants her to have it, that for her would weigh heavier than her refusal to wield a knife.

Oh, how badly I want access to their inner worlds…

[killjoy-prince]

aaaaaaaaaaaa my legs are sooooo sore

[necrotic-nephilim]

What's so fun about BruJay as a ship is Jason's sheer obsessive devotion to Bruce. Jason is possessive over Bruce, to the point he doesn't care about the deaths of others so long as he has Bruce's attention. A part of the UTRH arc this isn't talked about enough is that Bludhaven fucking explodes mid-way and Jason won't let Bruce see if Dick is alive.

batman (1940) #650

A lot of discussion about UTRH paints Jason as this anger-driven cold, calculating machine up against Bruce when it's so clear that his love for Bruce is what drives him at his root, even if he won't acknowledge it. He says it himself, he would've done anything if it was Bruce who'd died instead of him and his anger is rooted in that possessive devotion not being reciprocated.

batman (194) #650

BruJay as a ship always to be, to some level, unrequited. Even if Bruce loves Jason back in that way, he'll never be that obsessed with Jason. Jason will always view Bruce's love for Dick or Tim to be a distraction, proof that Bruce isn't dedicated enough to him. Jason has the need to always have Bruce's attention, even when it could come at the cost of Bruce's other loved ones. Something something cannibalism as a metaphor for love in how Jason wants to consume Bruce's whole existence. He can't let Bruce leave him again, can't let Bruce love or grieve anyone else. Forcing Bruce to choose between Jason and the Joker isn't just about confronting Jason's killer, it's about confronting the other person who exists as this duality with Bruce and consumes so much of Bruce's life. That's the role Jason wants to fill, calling himself Red Hood and forcing Bruce to look at what he's become. But still loving Bruce and wanting more than anything for Bruce to reciprocate that love in the way that Jason understands. I just think it's good soup and rife with Dynamics that are underexplored with them.

[schnaf]

22 days until hyeongjun's 22nd birthday

day 22 aka THE COUNTDOWN IS OVER - hyeongjun's past birthday brrrr ppoppos

bonus: 🤫

[notsodailycake]

We're being cringe today my little oranges (when aren't we?)

I made a sonamy fan kid

Something compelled me to draw one for absolutely no reason other than "wait...i can draw whatever i want!"

But i need some help deciding on her final look

I love those two dearly but i wanna have one set color pallet for her, and can't decide which. I have a poll on my insta as well, so the final vote will be an accumulation of both polls

Oh also, she has no name yet either, but I'm taking up suggestions currently (leave them under your reblogs or comments. Ask box is open as well, but I'd rather have them in this post for easy access)

Also, believe it or not this is my first official attemp at the sonic artstlye. I had a first attempt in a sketch, but i never really did much for it so i dont consider it a full official attempt, i was just getting a charater design idea out in my own stlye (barely trying to copy the "sonic stlye"). But i think i did pretty well for a first try, right?

[cowboy-robooty]

banging my head into a wall trying to make friends as a dms guy when everybody else in the world likes talking through posts.

[privatelife]

y'all who actually have partners,, what is a text ice breaker to start conversation? im really bad at it 😭

it feels important to note that when we do talk, the conversation flows great we have a nice rapport and complimentary senses of humors it's just starting the conversation that is the problem i think we are both just painfully shy 😔 (and maybe traumatized .)

[albatris]

hi I just woke up from a dream in which I plotted and wrote a fully formed supernatural queer romance novel plot about characters named fucking RUBY DOOM and fucking DUANE DUCEL

ok brain!!!!! th. thank you? maybe?

[gnosiia]

h... hewwo... ;w;

[noxtivagus]

the 1975 hdlfkahdfklasdd

[astrxealis]

sometimes (often) i think about the characters i kin or relate to and then the realization comes in again and again that i need therapy (/lh?)

[effigyofowls]

.

[bunnyb34r]

AHSGDGDGDGDG my mom just said she didn't know that autistic people knew they were different 😭 ma'am....

We were talking ab masking and how my cousin thinks we BOTH have a nervous laughter tic, but it's just that my brain mirrors people in social interactions and that I'm like "oh she's laughing, smile and laugh too" internally bc I have a hard time reading when something is actually supposed to be funny opposed to me THINKING it's funny and being WRONG.

Like agdgdgdgdgdg yes we KNOW we're different. Obviously not every single autistic person will know/knows yet, but yeah finding that out is a common experience for autistic kids especially. Might not know WHY they're "different" from their peers, but generally it's known that shit isnt lining up the way it should.

[myname-isnia]

I cannot believe I’m making an OC whose appearance is based on my mom’s blorbo. How did I end up here

[unboxeddoll]

[Profile picture image description: A toy rabbit from the Sylvanian Families/Calico Critters figurine line. It is light-coloured, but covered in soot. End description.]

[rosesnbooks]

Astrology observations #5🖤

🌜I wrote these for fun, based on how i see these placements. i'm not a professional! hope you enjoy these🌛

⭐cancer placements allow themselves to feel their emotions. they may get annoyed by the intensity or the amount of them, but they process them fully, and this makes it easier for them to move on. random thought but writing letters to people they like may be something they do or did as kids haha. they're very romantic

⭐some aries venuses have obsessive tendencies when they have a crush, and they get frustrated a lot if they think they can't/shouldn't pursue them. they enjoy the tension, but they don't want it to last too long because they dislike not being in control, and having feelings for someone leaves them feeling too vulnerable. that's why they try to move on if they can, but it takes work. when they do find someone, they become really clingy but they still need freedom when it suits them

⭐mars in libra avoid conflicts and try to be reasonable about everything, but if they think you crossed a line, you'll see why aries is their sister sign pretty soon. once they tell you off, you'll never see them the same way, so underrestimate them at your cost

⭐having stelliums can be interesting. it for sure puts a lot of emphasis on the influence of that house on your life, and i found that it can be both positive and negative since they face lots of challenges related to their house but also many blessings. those who have stelliums kind of embody multiple characteristics simultaneously

⭐sun in the 11th people glow when they are with their closest friends. they also tend to dream big and care a lot about the world. their friends usually help them in their future goals. they feel a bit different than people in their hometown/country, mostly because they cannot be tied down to a single culture because they enjoy different things, which usually makes them quite open-minded and tolerant. they can be picky about the people they let in super close though

⭐mars in the 6th can procrastinate a lot actually, but they get things done. may get sudden waves of high energy and get things done rapidly and extensively. they expect a lot from themselves regarding their ambitions and aspirations. they try to improve themselves in any way most of the time, but they should also accept their current state if they want to evolve and love themselves. they need to watch out for their moral perfectionism too. it's okay to make mistakes as long as you apologise and strive to change for the better

⭐i've found that virgo mercuries can be really direct, even if they are shy or don't talk much around strangers or acquaintances, they have their moments. super funny too

⭐north node in cancer struggle with accepting their vulnerable side. they hate feeling like things and people can evoke strong emotions in them. they want to be more detached, but those that work on themselves find it very rewarding once they embrace their strong emotions. they can also be really reliable, practical, and thoughtful

⭐fire+water combinations in birth charts-i am sending you a hug. i know exactly how difficult it is to keep all those emotions under check, and that you need a lot of understanding and rest to function. use those emotions and passions well hun, you are strong and capable. you have a lot of empathy and wonder inside of you

⭐capricorn sun/mercury have a dry way of texting. their humor is difficult to read via text and they simply are not fans of texting, and it shows lol

⭐aries mercuries are not always available online and they may come and go when they're online, but they'll answer all of your messages one by one with lots of enthusiasm. they also like to send memes and joke around a lot

⭐virgo mercuries are not fans of texting and they can answer you after a couple of days or so even if they really like you. similarly to aries, they'll make sure they answer everything and they also pay attention to every detail you mention. very sweet really. their humor shines brighter in person

⭐taurus moon are very capable. they may prefer rest over anything else, but their patience and dedication to the things they need to do is really cool. they are calm most of the time so it's nice to be around them, just don't disrespect them and everyone will thrive

⭐taurus venus men can be really possessive. even if you like such behavior, some can go to extremes and try to control how you feel, think, and behave. they have a specific image of an ideal partner and they want you to fulfill it

⭐libra venus tend to care about how they look and present themselves so they put lots of effort into that. they also have standards when it comes to beauty and some expect others to dress and look well, whether they know them or not

⭐women with venus in aquarius-you may be attracted to men who are mysterious and act like they're special. just be careful because there are so many toxic ones out there who want a relationship but not truly, because they don't want to dedicate themselves to you and maybe plan on using you

⭐pisces moon can feel like they're drowning in their own emotions sometimes because they cannot control them easily and they tend to give in. if they like to portray themselves as a martyr these emotions can get out of hand because they let those emotions lead them which influences their mental health and relationships. those who are developed process these emotions and try to figure them out and let them pass. they can learn a lot about themselves and others this way. creative outlets can be of help to process this

⭐leo moon need to watch out for hurting people when their ego is hurt because they can lash out and make lots of damage. take a second to think whether it's worth it or not, since there is no point in trying to "win" in a fight with someone you love

⭐pisces mars can be too forgiving, especially to those they care about. don't let people walk over you dear, no matter who they are. nobody deserves that kind of treatment

thank you for reading!🤍i also offer paid astrology readings, so check out my blog for more info

©rosesnbooks