#and maybe he shouldn't be??? maybe he should express beliefs that come in conflict with his friends'???

[wisteriasymphony]

he should also get no sleep either i think. not like he has a dad around to enforce bedtimes anymore

constant internal thought process

[horizon-verizon]

This is about the show, not the book characters.

I've already expressed indifference towards this particular ship both bc Laenyra was right there AND bc I didn't feel it had the longevity I prefer in my ships. Well, something else troubles me for the integrity for this ship. Namely, Mysaria's intentions & Rhaenyra's habits (once again, this is all coming from how the show decided to write these characters!!!).

After reading this Variety article where Emma describes Mysaria and Rhaenyra's relationship thus far, it occurred to me that Rhaenyra has already done something like this before whenever Daemon has seemingly abandoned her:

First it was Criston Cole, who she slept with after Daemon left her at the brothel.

Then it is Harwin--she expressly says that Daemon abandoned her, and she's still talking about the brothel mess. It's also when he abandons her at her wedding after their whole "take me to Dragonstone to be your wife" challenege that could have been semi genuiune. Harwin was obviously a much better and longer lasting relationship than the non-one with Cole, but it is very clear that it began as a necessity, developed from proximity, she would have preferred Daemon, and the wound was still visibly sore when she met up with him again in epi7. There was still yearning on her part. Harwin, though she loved him and cared for him, was absolutely second place here.

Now Daemon has gone off to Harrenhal after the S2 epi2 argument that made no sense and Rhaenyra has no idea what Daemon has planned or if he will at all support her. She's feeling lost, unworthy, that she has lost him, and too helpless. Esp with her council and son all saying she should stay put to avoid losing the war altogether with her own death. Mysaria is also Daemon's ex...she and Mysaria both face struggles from being in a world catered towards and over-empowering men PLUS having been with Daemon. I saw another clip that included Rhaenyra saying she wanted to be a man period AND to be a man like Daemon. After Mysaria relates her story and why she thinks she can stay to support Rhaenyra--respecting her as an equal--Rhaenyra immediately reaches in for the hug, Mysaria seems to caress her neck, she kisses Mysaria. She kisses Mysaria right after she says she wants to be Daemon...is she trying to reach Daemon through Mysaria, or is she trying to "occupy" Daemon's space b/t them to borrow some of that "masculine" power? Both? IDK, I'm not sapphic or wlw.

Point is when she's feeling vulnerable, she seeks out comfort, as is her right...but it's also a pattern that the show somehow always centers around a lack of Daemon. And all her vulnerabilities and fears stem from her insecurities about her being a good ruler in the eyes of those who support her, which was men up until this point. With Mysaria, she sees someone who has faith in her being able to be a good, worthy queen, competence--what Emma has said was:

Mysaria really affects Rhaenyra’s politics. She has a powerful impact on Rhaenyra’s ability to see how a kingdom and its citizens are affected in the case of civil war. That was slightly abstract to Rhaenyra — until Mysaria somehow makes that more concrete. And I think speaks to different forms of power that, again, maybe Rhaenyra, in her eagerness for a masculine conflict-based power, sometimes overlooks. Gaining the will, and the belief of the people — I don’t know how much that was part of her political consciousness prior to Mysaria.

and Mysaria has demonstrated a sort of support she feels show!Daemon not only didn't but refused to provide. What Mysaria tells her to do, has all thus far worked.

Check, check, check, check...

Mysaria has always tried to be on the side of power. First it was Daemon, then it was Otto; though w/Daemon she hoped for it indirectly, with Daemon's protection with use of her body and with Otto she wanted to stand as more of an equal or as close as she can get to that by providing information instead. The last few episodes, however, we saw her decide to leave it all behind and preserve her life and sanity after some green burned down her home and ruined her life. We are meant to judge that Mysaria stays despite her previous plans bc she sees Rhaenyra as worthy enough to serve or bc she feels the most "equal" she has ever felt. But I wonder is what Mysaria if Mysaria still feels like she has to cater towards another "patron" not necessarily for/with sex and she is more concerned with getting an angle than a relationship. But then again, perhaps this is only a real issue for those who prefer longevity in ships? IDK.

Also, show!Rhaenyra is resembling Cersei too much with all this wishing-to-be-a-man shit. No, these were not the same "type" of women! this is what happens when you totally rewrite and dilute an original female character's pride for an audience who you think shouldn't be discomfited by a "bitchy" woman demanding her birthright because she claims it.

[barnesbabee]

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜰᴏᴜʀ- ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀʟᴀɴᴅ

WONDERLAND MASTERLIST ⇜ ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜꜱ - ꜰᴏᴜʀ-  ɴᴇxᴛ ⟿

CHARACTER LIST:

White Rabbit - Choi Jongho Absolem (Blue Catterpilar) - Kang Yeosang Cheshire Cat - Kim Hongjoong Mad Hatter - Choi San Haigha (March Hare) - Jung Wooyoung Tweedle Dee - Song Mingi Tweedle Dum - Jeong Yunho Bloody Red King - Park Seonghwa

[Send me a DM, an ask or comment to be added to the tag list] Big thanks to my dear friend @smallfrye for making the banner <3

“She, my friends, is going to trick the King.”

The room echoed with gasps from the crowd.

"Aaaabsolem," the Hatter sang "are you trying to take my place as the mad one? That is not very nice!"

"I'm dead serious. The King has obviously taken a liking to her, she came back to us with a dress and with her head still attached to her body. The King took her for a stroll in the garden! She's the only one that can get close to him. Get close to him, and kill him."

You tilted your head and furrowed your eyebrows as you looked at him in disbelief. Was he serious?

"Sir, or whatever it is I'm supposed to call a caterpillar, I'm not about to kill someone."

"Tell me, what are you going to do?"

You gulped. You didn't know what to do. You didn't know where you were, you weren't even sure you were alive. But from not knowing what to do to committing murder, it went a long, long way.

"I can help you get close to him. That is as far as I'll go. I don't know the laws of this place or the morals anyone has, but where I'm from you can't just kill someone."

The hatter walked closer to you and caressed your cheek.

"My dear, the only law in Wonderland is that you can't disrespect the King's wishes."

"And does the King wish to die?"

The Hatter laughed loudly.

"I supposed not... Sucks to be him I guess! Off you go!" The Hatter said, grabbing your old dress and pushing you into a room to get dressed back into the horrid black and red, heart-decorated dress.

Once you came back all of their faces scrunched in disgust. The King really had ruined red for everyone...

"Alright beautiful, hmm here's the deal," Cheshire told you, twirling and swirling around in the air before settling right beside you "I have so kindly volunteered to take you to the castle. You're not entering thought, you will lay right outside under one of the trees, and you will pretend to be passed out, as our dear Tweedles inform the King that they saw a pretty lady with a black and red dress passed out not far from the castle. The card Knights will bring you in and you will tell the King you were scared when he started yelling. Apologize. You have to apologize, make sure he knows that you think you're in the wrong, because if he starts thinking that you blame him for something he'll lose his mind... And you'll lose your head!"

His tongue grazed along his sharp teeth and he chuckled lowly.

"And that's where Hatter comes in. After a few days, you tell him that he should get a new crown, a bigger one, and you suggest him to commission one from your good friend Hatter. And when Hatter tries to get the measurements, he'll kill the king. Make sure you find the witch in the castle, the King keeps her locked in a cage where she can't perform her magic."

You looked around the room, meeting everyone's expectant (and slightly insane) eyes.

"Fine, but you have to promise that while I'm away you find a way out of here, to send me back home."

The Wonderlanders looked around, with uncertainty in their eyes. They agreed to the promise they knew they would never be able to accomplish. They didn't even know where to start! But if lying was a step closer to their freedom, then so be it.

After going over the plan once more, Cheshire escorted you to the palace. The trip was mostly quiet, aside from his incessant humming and occasional curious questions about your origins. Cheshire kind of scared you... Although he was quite small compared to everyone else you had met, something about him made him very eerie. Maybe it was the way he smiled so widely, maybe it was his sharp teeth or the way his fearless eyes stared at everyone with a seemingly ghoulish look, but the fact was that he scared you beyond belief.

"Hmm, we're here darling." Cheshire sang in his creepy, mellow voice.

You looked at him briefly and watched him disappear into thin air without so much as a goodbye.

You laid under the big tree. The stump was purple and its blue leaves formed a big heart (unsurprisingly), and the soft foliage slowly fell beside you as you tried your best to seem passed out. Soon enough you heard the familiar heavy footsteps and rustling of armor, and you assumed the card Knights were near.

"Miss?" A raspy, deep voice called, as the owner poked you with his sharp spear.

Classy.

You slowly opened your eyes and pretended to be confused with your surroundings.

"Miss it appears you have passed out. The King requires your immediate presence in the castle."

The faceless card Knight commanded two other Knights to pick you up, and so they did, carrying you to the castle not so gently. Once you were past the big, heavy gates you could see the King anxiously (or furiously, you couldn't quite tell) pacing around the big garden decorating the front of the castle.

"Here she is, my King."

The cards released you roughly, nearly pushing you onto the ground.

"Careful! Idiots!" The King yelled and scurried to help you.

He looked into your fearful eyes, and although he could not recognize emotions to save a life, he could tell something wasn't right.

"Should we go for a stroll? I must talk to you..."

You accepted the King's request by taking the hand he extended to you.

"I-I'm sorry for running away, I shouldn't have done that."

You looked down at the grass as you apologized, too afraid to look him in the eye.

"Do I scare you?"

You stopped dead in your tracks and glanced briefly at the King. His eyes were not evil but showed curiosity and hurt instead.

There was a conflict in you, between wanting to be honest and wanting to keep your head. You flinched suddenly as the King's cold hands held yours.

"Please be honest, if the reply must be yes I promise there will be no consequences..."

You gulped.

"Well... Yes, you do scare me a little."

The King looked at the ground, with an adorably confused expression and scrunched nose.

"I guess I could have guessed that... But please, what scared you? What can I do to... not scare you?"

You were baffled that the tyrant King of this land was willing to change for someone like you.

"You must calm down Seonghwa, the way you yelled at someone because of the roses really scared me... Especially the way you asked to get them killed."

The King looked genuinely confused.

"But darling, don't they look so much better in red? Besides, what am I supposed to do to the incompetent peasants?"

"Well, maybe you could reward the people who do well, so the people who don't do well will work harder!"

The King had a disgusted face as you suggested that.

"My darling they are hardly people..."

You looked at him apprehensively.

"Fine, I'll consider your proposal, but only if you join me for dinner. I want to get to know you better."

"I accept your invitation, I have some questions myself."

The King took your hand and lead you inside the palace and up the slippery marble stairs. Everything in the castle was adorned with gold, and every wall had a painting of the King. Both of your shoes clicked against the floor in a movie-like way as you made your way into the big dining hall, that had all types of expensive-looking food.

"Where should I sit?"

The King stood behind a chair right on the other end of the table.

"Here, of course, opposed to me."

You cocked your head and looked at him as if he was stupid.

"Seonghwa how are we supposed to talk if we're so far away?"

"Hm..." The King thought for a second, tapping his chin with his index finger "Well I suppose you could sit next to me."

You smiled and took a seat next to the one where the King sat. It was pretty obvious from the extravagant, unique chair that it was there where he usually sat to have his meals.

"Well, I don't mean to sound rude but I don't even know your name. What should I call you?"

You watched a frogman served the King a couple of slices of whatever animal was roasted and served in a silver platter in front of you. You hadn't even realized he didn't know your name.

"Y/N, my name is Y/N."

"Oh! What a peculiar name! Tell me, Y/N, what is it that you want to ask me?"