#and idk if it makes sense

[the-daily-dreamer]

The thing about the breakdown of the Rhaenicent relationship that is talked about but I think is still severely overlooked is the key role that both girls/women (specifically Rhaenyra) play in its destruction.

Because the fandom focuses in on this narrative that the relationship broke down solely because of the ambitions of men. And aside from that fueling the annoying idea that all women are inherently passive victims that suffer because men are ambitious and violent, it’s simply wrong.

While the catalyst was certainly Otto’s ambition and Viserys’s weakness (and perversion), Rhaenyra and Alicent’s relationship truly breaks down because of Rhaenyra’s entitlement, self-serving nature, and inability to see outside of herself and her experiences and Alicent’s (in my opinion reasonable) reactions toward this over time.

The beginning of the break down comes from Otto forcing Alicent to comfort the king and Viserys knowing his desire for her is wrong and forcing her to keep quiet about their visits until he decides to marry her without her prior knowledge or consent. And Rhaenyra (and the fandom) sees this as the ultimate betray against her by Alicent. Rhaenyra holds more resentment against Alicent for the engagement than she does against her father. Why is this? Some might say that it’s because she’s closer with Alicent and therefore would expect more from her than her father (whose relationship with her has been broken by the murder death of her mother). But I don’t think that’s fully the case.

While Rhaenyra having a higher expectation of Alicent may be a reason for her increased and unequal resentment, I think the main reason is that Rhaenyra cannot fathom Alicent could do this because she has never been in this position. Rhaenyra sees this as Alicent being complicit in the deceit and seduction because Rhaenyra would simply rebel. She can’t understand why Alicent wouldn’t simply say “no” to her father or betray the king for her. Rhaenyra’s world view is very blinded by her privilege. She simply thinks Alicent should and could defy her own father because…Rhaenyra has and will again. Rhaenyra is able to disobey her father and get away with it so why can’t Alicent? Ignoring the fact that a crown princess has vastly more power than the daughter of the hand, Viserys is a weak and compliant parent compared to Otto’s manipulative and stern nature. It’s easy for Rhaenyra to disobey because the consequences are either nonexistent or very mild. Alicent doesn’t have this luxury and privilege but Rhaenyra can’t conceive of it.

But also, Rhaenyra sees her father as…her dad. Not the king. Rhaenyra sees it as easy to defy him and his orders because he is her father first and her king second. But for Alicent that is the king. The most powerful man in the world. Defying him could have disastrous consequences for her and her father. But because Rhaenyra doesn’t force herself to see things from another’s perspective, she doesn’t see it as Alicent being beholden to the man who could (if he wanted to) ruin her family or kill her and her father but rather her friend not betraying her dad.

After this we see Alicent be the one to continuously try to extend an olive branch and support Rhaenyra behind the scenes. Asking for Rhaenyra to have the option to choose who she marries (a privilege and kindness Alicent, herself, and every other woman in this universe hasn’t had). Reaffirming Rhaenyra as the right choice for heir when Viserys is questioning his decisions. Defending Rhaenyra against rumors that would damage her reputation. And all Alicent gets in return is snark, anger, and lies (leading to Alicent’s isolation and suffering in court).

Which leads to event two that breaks the relationship: Rhaenyra’s entitled behavior and lying. Alicent spends a great deal of her time coinciding her husband in favor of Rhaenyra. But Rhaenyra, seeing herself as exceptional and above the rules, continuously acts out in ways that hurt her standing. Most especially with her decision to go out and try to sleep with daemon and then pushing Criston to sleep with her.

Alicent is the one to be transparent with Rhaenyra about the “rumor” to get her side. Something Viserys would simply not care enough to do. Rhaenyra, knowing her actions being confirmed would be disastrous, tells half truths to Alicent who is all too eager to believe and support her friend. Even worse, she uses the memory of her mother, something she knows Alicent holds incredibly sacred, to further convince Alicent that she’s telling the truth. And this decision by Rhaenyra to lie (over something she knows Alicent holds dear and has used multiple times to try to connect with her) to protect herself directly harms Alicent as her father and only ally in court is kicked out and ostracized. But that’s not Rhaenyra’s concern. While Alicent has given a lot of effort to protect and defend Rhaenyra, Rhaenyra is far too focused on her on wishes and desires to care about the impacts her choices have on anyone else.

And that’s why when Alicent finds out that it was a lie, a lie that got her father taken away from her, she goes full scorched earth and wears the green dress. Because she realizes that Rhaenyra will never stop being entitled and self-serving. She realizes that all this time and effort she has put into fixing things with Rhaenyra and defending her is completely one sided. Because Rhaenyra can only see things from her perspective and can only see things based on how she can benefit even to the detriment of others (herself, her father, Criston, etc.).

Then the final nail in the coffin is the birthing of bastards. At this point Alicent has had her eyes opened to how Rhaenyra will do as she pleases without considering the consequences (to herself and others) and then she watches Rhaenyra flagrantly birth obvious bastard after obvious bastard, pushing the children she was forced to have further and further down the line of succession behind kids who objectively should not have the throne. And it makes her bitter and jealous and as she should be. The fandom is too obsessed with marking Alicent as the reason the relationship was destroyed because she was unnecessarily jealous of poor Rhaenyra who was just so brave to do as she pleased!

But it’s a spit in the face to Alicent. That Alicent was pimped out and forced the have children with a man she didn’t love at the ripe old age of 15 hole Rhaenyra is free to take a lover and birth obvious bastards and get away with it. She has every right to be angry. Not because she thinks all women should be submissive and bend to patriarchy. Because she is watching how privileged Rhaenyra is before her very eyes while she was forced to suffer the way almost every other woman has.

While I acknowledge that Viserys and Otto are the catalyst for the breakdown of Rhaenyra and Alicent’s relationship. Rhaenyra’s flagrant disregard for others and her entitlement are what truly break the relationship until Alicent is no longer willing to be submissive and accepting of Rhaenyra’s behavior. And this in turn, causes her to make choices that service her and her children. The way Rhaenyra has always done and always will.

The breakdown of rhaenicent was always inevitable regardless of which men were involved. Because at their core, Rhaenyra would always put herself first and Alicent would always come to the realization she is no longer willing to be a doormat.

[her-canine-teeth]

if orpheus & eurydice was a coin. the jackieshauna is the other side

[s-ccaam-era-crepe]

I no longer seek you out in crowds

I don’t do a double take when I see bright pink hair

I don’t think about your favorite medias

I don’t hear your voice in my head anymore

I don’t go back to our old messages and wish I did something better

I don’t wish things turned out differently

I no longer seek you out in my heart

We don’t speak anymore.

It’s going to take a while

But I’ll think of you and

- eventually -

it won’t be a problem.

[simple-persica]

Loomis Method this, Loomis Method that. I have my own method; it's called the "F-it we ball" method.

[macdenlover]

it came to my realization that 99% of my fandom related headaches would be cured if everyone understood this

[niinnyu]

Revenge is best served with friends helping you.

[fraternum-momentum]

give me your complete and unwavering devotion.

[fettiowi]

I had a dream where I drew this and decided to make it real

[buggachat]

btw I am OBSESSED w this new character, Diane, who wears clovers and has a running gag about weirdly lucky things happening to her. i am eating her scenes up and i want more of her. new favorite minor character

[manchesterau]

x/x

[maiko-coy]

So, that happened.

[mochasucculent]

Was looking at refs and since Viktor has two different leg braces I was wondering, do we think he wears them simultaneously?? The refs don't perfectly line up perspective-wise so it's hard to tell but parts of the one he wears during the Hexcore scenes look like they could maybe line up with the brace that he wears over his clothes, but also some parts really don't and look like they'd be super uncomfy. Also HOW does he take these on and off. Experts weigh in

[katnissmellarkkk]

imagine being haymitch though. imagine being in 13, forced sober for the first time in years, and suddenly, you’re getting your boy back. the one you were so sure snow had stolen from you, like he’d stolen everyone else you’d ever loved. but somehow, by some miracle, your kid is here and he’s breathing and in one piece. imagine how excited you’d be.

imagine how excited you’d be for your (little) girl, your sweetheart of new, who’s about to get her love back. who’s about to experience that same joy you felt for those five minutes you had lenore dove in your arms, before the gumdrops and the poison and everything else came crashing down. only katniss’ joy isn’t going to be for five minutes.

imagine watching as your golden boy runs towards your sweetheart and you’re watching as her arms are outstretched, reaching for him like it appears he’s reaching for her.

now imagine how it must have felt for haymitch to realize the boy’s hands are locking around your girl’s neck and he’s not peeta anymore and this hijacked boy, this lou lou peeta is now strangling katniss. and you’re frozen in place.

just like you were frozen in place decades ago, when the peacekeepers were manhandling lenore dove. you have no choice but to hesitate because you’ve hesitated all your life, and that’s what you do, and once again it almost cost you everything.

once again, hesitating almost cost you your entire family.

no wonder haymitch is so angry all the time.

[pricegouge]

price is so stern i bet you'd be hesitant and shy, scared to step out of line. he doesn't realize the effect it has on you, sending you skittering around in circles trying to please him. he's spent his whole life surrounded by headstrong officers and bootlicking, unquestioning subordinates; he's unused to smart, sweet things like you who need a bit more, who are devoted but uncompromising in their own needs, and it just about bowls him over when you reach your limit, brow furrowing adorably when he's being just a little too mean one night, leaving you wanting just because he feels like it, and you raise your damn hand to ask if you've been bad. (of course not, you're perfect, let him mak it up to you)

[toodrunktofindaurl]

"Death's child"

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