#can we also acknowledge that Elain has come a long way

[open-at-the-close]

Everyone is so concerned about what male they will end up with that they forget that the females in these books have such good stories and character development all on their own.

Imagine reading Gwyn finally having the courage to tell her story during the blood rite

Such a painful and overcoming story

She was willing to give her life to save children in Sangravah

She was abused because of this

She saw her twin sister, the only family she had, being beheaded in front of her

She lost EVERYTHING she had

Her family, her home, her choice

She spent months in a deep depression

Years without feeling the sunlight

She finally managed to find strength in the library, singing in services, and with Nesta's arrival this strength intensified

But even so, she feels guilty about her sister's death, she feels unworthy to use the priestesses' stone, she doesn't feel ready to leave the library

You read this whole story in ACOSF, and your conclusion at the end of the book is that you found her "suspicious" and are "side-eyeing" her? That she have luring powers?

Honestly, this is SICK

[acourtofthought]

One of the more ridiculous things ewriel have said is that in that BC they love the yearning between ewriel. Yearning WHERE? They just want to bang because they are attracted to each other. Ewriels really don’t understand romance and we all suffer for it.

For a group that says we don't care about what the characters wants, they seem hell bent on forcing emotions onto both Az and Elain that just do not exist in actual canon.

Az is struggling, that cannot be denied and yes, he's spent a year staring at headache powder. But we KNOW he's spent much longer than that brooding and pouting over not having Mor and that means his feelings and self-loathing go way beyond Elain. When they try to act like this all stems from him not getting to be with "his one true love", it's a bit of a joke. Since book 2 we've heard how he has always struggled to know where he belongs, since book 2 we learned of how he wanted Mor from the moment she walked into the Illyrian camp over 500 years ago and how the fallout from her sleeping with Cassian was really bad, since book 2 and all the way through SF, we've been given mentions of him staring at Mor with yearning and longing (because "few and far between in SF does not equal zero which means he is STILL looking at Mor with longing at times), since book 3 we witnessed him pouting / being aloof after Mor was upset with him, only softening when she sat next to him at dinner or after he'd had time to recover from it, since book 3 Rhys tells Feyre Az has most likely been asking himself why he didn't get a mating bond with Mor for the past centuries and in SF Az refused to address his very known feelings for Mor with Rhys (avoidance is telling).

Az now wondering why he didn't get a mate like his brothers has a lot less to do with Elain herself and a lot more to do with Az's personal issues and the canon PROVES that considering he did not tell us or think a single thing he actually likes about Elain. A mating bond should be irrelevant if Elain was enough all on her own. He knows she's Lucien's mate so shouldn't he be focused on how to be with her without a bond rather than pouting how his brothers got a bond with her sisters and he got none? Gwyn got his admiration and encouragement, the belief that she could handle something dangerous, the acknowledgement of how far she's come since he first met her and Elain got his....pity? His dagger? His White knight rescue syndrome that he also gave to Feyre and Briar in the exact same scene? Oooooh, so super special! I'd rather take someone believing in me and thinking I'm impressive over them giving me a physical object and thinking I'm too helpless to save myself..

As far as Elain. Where is the canon proof that Elain wants a relationship with Az? That she has feelings for him the way she did for Graysen? Where is the canon proof that she yearned for Az? In fact, we're shown quite the opposite what with her going out and doing her own thing helping elderly fae with their garden. SF showed her in a better place than the novella and none of that was thanks to Az since he avoided her which she really didn't seem bothered by. If she was bothered then why did she not bring it up on Solstice? "I've missed seeing you". "I've been hurt you've stayed away for so long." Instead we got nothing of the sort with Az instead thinking "she was aware why he's been avoiding family dinners" and Elain seeming pretty cool with it all. That does not give me vibes of yearning. And where is the canon proof that Elain has any interest in Az after Solstice? At this point the E/riel ship is no longer a canon event. Can some hope they come back together in the next book? Definitely! Just like I'm guessing some hoped Aelin would end up with Chaol or Dorian after their parting of ways but at this point, Elain and Az are no longer romantic love interests based on the characters current feelings, feelings change and there is nothing to currently suggest Elain and Az would go down that path again.

I'm not sure why E/riels have decided that crush in a SJM book equals endgame considering zero of her pairings started out as a cutesy crush.

The best SJM situationship I can use to compare the E/riel setup to is Dorian and Celaena (and they even shared way more than E/riel). Dorian was the first guy Celaena wanted to kiss after Sam's death and Az was the first guy Elain was willing to kiss after Graysen. Celaena definitely had a crush on Dorian, lots of looks and glances and they were definitely forbidden. Dorian gave Celaena a puppy and Az gave Elain a necklace. But once Celaena became the kings champion, she close to walk away from their relationship even though Dorian was willing to find a way for them to be together, even though Dorian thought he loved her. Celaena realized that despite the things she was feeling for him, it wasn't right because of who she was and because of who he was. After her decision, she never looked back. Sarah chose not to go down the path of forbidden love and instead focused on Celaena's destiny which it seems like she's setting Elain up for, what with the mentions of her scent being a "promise of Spring" and Nesta thinking how "the Spring Court had been made for someone like Elain" and Elain saying she needs sunshine, with Elain sitting by the sunniest windows all the time.

Elain gave Az his necklace back, a very symbolic gesture of things ending between her couples, just like we saw with Celaena and Chaol (and no, Nesta refusing Cassian's gift is not the same thing because Nesta did not accept the gift and then return it) and Elain has never looked back in the 4- 5 months since. Not only was there never any canon of yearning or Az on her part (we have seen what Elain yearning for someone looks like), but there is no canon of her remotely being interested in anything with Az since Solstice. If she got over her fiancé in half a year, then moving on from her crush on Az is easy.

[elrielffs]

Why would Sarah put Gwyn in the extra chapter, I'm sorry but it seems strange to me and the truth is it does lend itself to confusion with the issue of shipping

Look, I get it.

If I saw the end of the bc without knowing anything about ACOTAR or it's characters, I could see how it's interpreted as romantic and lend people to ship Gwynriel as a probability.

But context is everything in every piece of media.

Looking at Gwyn and Azriel's interactions point blank in ACOSF...there is nothing that lends to romance or attraction. Not a blush, not stated interest, no charged glance, nothing.

Combine that with the fact that after the BC, Azriel and Gwyn's relationship doesn't change and Azriel has no mate behavior to Gwyn...no longing glances, no desire to seek her out, no reaction to her in the BR, no rage at the thought of her assault...he doesn't even have these things instinctively or even as person that cares about another person beyond general friendliness.

Couple that with the backdrop of alllllll the Elriel going on and it's just not plausible to me. Gwynriel and Elucien have not been given the emotional weight that Elriel has and it definitely has not been given anything even close to it at all and I fail to see how SJM can catch up the couples in 1 book if she wasn't doing Elriel. Even Feysand had 2 books.

I personally think Gwyn was put in the BC to hint at Lightsinger powers that will come into play some way or maybe she is just a red herring, we won't truly know until the next book. Emerie was introduced in ACFAS and we didn't really know her role until ACOSF (and people shipped her with Cassian and Azriel). The BC wasn't Gwyn's introduction but we can conclude that just because she was there doesn't mean it has to be because of romance.

People also like to ignore the other BC where Rhysand and Feyre discuss Elain. The common factor between the two being the third Archeron sister.

I just don't see any good explanation or anything that would make sense in the story for SJM to build up Elriel and have nothing come of it (not even having them together!!) while planning other ships that arent properly set up.

If Elriel had already become a full fledged acknowledged couple in the backdrop of the trilogy, I could see it but as it stands they haven't even been able to explore a relationship. There would be no reason for them to have all this momentum to just fizzle out to lackluster alternative relationships that have not even a crumb of set up that they got.

Also, it's a BC, it's extra, it's hinting at story beats. It can't change the narrative or begin or end anything because if it did it would have to be in the book.

And you can't say oh well, it's hinting towards Gwynriel and ignore everything else that happened with Elain and Az and even Rhysand and Azriel in the BC or with what we see in ACOSF with these characters. Elain has a mate she doesn't want, Azriel and her had a miscommunication, Az and Rhysand have friction now, the Blood Duel was mentioned...all this isn't put there to not play out and just be a top off of a romance that wasn't fully realized.

I could go on and on about the minutiae of what was included and what wasn't and why but I won't. Suffice to say that everyone will have their own take and we won't rightly know until the next book is out but if we actually take everything as a whole rather than in parts you can see how things are falling into place.

[elainsgirl]

SJM wrote HOFAS after ACOSF and Azriel emphatically says he doesn’t have a mate. Gs say that it’s because he doesn’t trust Bryce and is trying to protect Gwyn? That’s such a ridiculous argument. If he wanted to be with Gwyn, he could. Their trope would be nothing more than friends to lovers. There’s absolutely nothing against them getting together. So, even if Azriel had lied in HOFAS, we would’ve seen Nesta giving him a “look” for lying about his mate.

Let me get this straight:

Az not saying Gwyn is his mate = awww he cares about Gwyn so much & wants to protect her identity

Azriel not telling Bryce that Elain was the one to stab Hybern - He doesn’t want to acknowledge her achievement bcs that ruins his perception of Elain & proves she doesn’t need him which Azriel hates bcs he sees her as someone that needs protection and coddling. (yeppp this an actual argument antis have come up with)

I don’t even think one can argue with that logic bcs its so stupid and misinterpreted from the context.

Gwynriels like to say Gwyn and Az will have a healing arc, as you mentioned they’ll become friends then eventual lovers (another trope stolen from elriel) GAs also claim that Azriel has officially moved on from Elain, ending elriel and by the end of acosf there are some feelings between him and Gwyn…I think its logical to assume that by the time HOFAS takes place, hypothetically there should’ve been some development between gwynriel to the point of Az at least knowing he has feelings for gwyn or an inkling that she may be his mate, Nesta who is constantly around gwyn & Azriel (even in a gwynriel book, Nesta plays a huge role) should have at least by now, noticed that Gwyn and Az are into each other (it didn’t take her long to figure out Azriel’s feelings for Elain) yet when Az says no to having a spouce or partner, Nesta could have at least snorted or as you mentioned give Az a “look” - anything to hint to us ACOTAR readers that there is something actively going on in Azriel’s love life. Yet since we get nothing…months later is there still no development between Gwyn and Az? If so, why?

Their story is straightforward with the way gwynriels spin it. Rhys forbade Az from Elain -> Az will be a good obedient boy & obey his HL, dissolving any feelings he has for Elain (already happened pre-gwynriel book) -> gwyn and Az spend time together -> BAM! They confess their love, accept the bond and become mates.

If HOFAS overlaps with acotar 5 - then Gwyn and Az should be at the “realising they’re madly in love” part - so even if Az didnt want to reveal Gwyn was his mate/partner, Sjm could have shown Az hesitating before his No or Nesta teasing him with a smirk, literally anything bcs there’s nothing stopping them from developing feelings, Elain certainly isn’t the issue.

All we get from HOFAS is that Azriel’s love life is stagnant…leaving the impression he isn’t over what happened with Elain.

[gwyns]

"Something in his chest sparked at that."

(Ruhn and Lidia)

"Something sparked in Azriel's chest.'"

(Gwyn and Azriel)

I can't believe readers read this part and go "Gwyn is a lightsinger! She can't be Azriel's mate because the bond between her and Lucien is fake. Azriel is Elain's true mate."

I swear they change their theories every year. First, they wanted to read a book that is not about mates. A book about a chosen love. Then they come out with theories that the Cauldron was wrong because Azriel (my stupid boy) thought so.

Then they said Elain belongs to the Night Court but I saw a theory she will be a High Lady of the Dusk Court with Azriel by her side.

Before HOFAS they claimed Elain will play a big role in the book (she didn't btw). Now there are theories she will be the future owner of Gwydion only to firt into Azriel's story with Truth Teller. (Gwynriels have theories about Gwyn and Gwydion that were made even before House of Sky and Breath, but yeah Elain will be the one who will get Gwydion.)

I also say a theories about Elain and Pegasuses. (Come on we know who loves them.) And apparently Elain will be connecting not with the Prison as they were screaming. Now she will go to Ramiel.

I'm done with them. Nothing is mathing.

they really are scrambling huh? after this many sjm books it's not hard to recognize the language she uses for mates. quinlar had a similar quote too in their hosab bonus chapter so things aren't looking good for the bread babies!

sometimes i forget that e/riel started as a ship for people who wanted a story with more "choice", it's been so long since i've seen them scream about that. all it is now is true mates and the cauldron was wrong/corrupted and blah blah blaahhhh. mates are sarah saying "hey! this couple is it!!" and unless she randomly changes her formula, mates are endgame, in every series and universe

it's so fascinating they claim she'll take the dusk land/prison when... nesta is connected to that? bryce even acknowledged this by giving her the starsword/gwyndion?? like i'm sorry but elain is not connected to that. and why should she be? she already has ties to day through her mate and suspected ties to spring since her sisters commented on how it was made for someone like her

oh yeah i remember the pre hofas theories about how e/riel would team up and save the universe!!! as if this wasn't still a crescent city novel and that would fall solely on bryce, hunt and their frat pack lol. honestly i'm not sure where i stand on the gwyndion theories, i do remember seeing some shortly after acosf's release but i'm unsure if i think nesta will keep it or eventually give it to gwyn. if it's the latter, that would be badass, having two mates have the dagger and sword

to be fair, helion does have the last remaining pegasuses in prythian and again, elain is connected to day through lucien so i can understand wanting elain with a pegasus, on that end anyway lol but it's true that, outside of helion, i associate them more with the valkyries. didn't the old valkyries ride them into battles? or am i misremembering? either way, give the valkyries their pretty winged horses please

RAMIEL??? ELAIN????? the same elain who is connected to the big baddie of the spinoffs? yeah, no way lol. ramiel/the illyrian conflict is a plot all on its own, meaning someone else will take care of it. anyone remember pre acosf when nessian were supposed to deal with the illyrians? and sjm instead chose to push that plot back?? huh i wonder why... it couldn't be because she decided to have az deal with it with his mate or anything...

although, i suppose this is what you have to do when you try so hard to make your ship work in the canon when it's been dead since 2021

[anishake]

Facts and Maas patterns pointing at Elucien endgame and the problem with anti arguments

Disclaimer: This is in no way an explicitly anti-Elriel essay. I acknowledge that the author has her own agenda and who Elain will end up with is at this point not determined and prone to flexibility.

While it's been more than 4 years since my introduction to ACOTAR universe, I'm relatively new to the Elucien fandom and I decided to put my two cents into the ongoing shipping discourse (which, I'm praying won't last too long).

I decided to address the following two points that are most prevalent today in fandom: Elain being "uncomfortable" around Lucien and the significance of Azriel's solstice gift.

Personally, if I were an Elriel shipper I WOULD be devastated by the whole gift ordeal because there are two possible explanations to it -either, Maas put it in there for the Angst's sake before they patch things up, OR it's a big foreshadowing: Elain rejecting any possible future chances with the Illyrian by returning the gift and by default him choosing Gwyn over Elain (The necklace after all ended up with the priestess).

Now, this whole gift thing becomes more meaningful because we know one more Male Elain has received presents from - Lucien. And while we haven't seen her using any of them, the Archeron sister hasn't returned those gifts for one reason or other, and we are yet to see the explanation. The aforementioned facts give a bigger advantage to team Elucien.

Moving on to the "Elain being "uncomfortable" around Lucien" argument. I simply love it! Isn't it ironic how we as a fandom act like we know who Elain is and what she wants? Exactly like the inner cycle. People forget that we are YET to see Elain's POV. We have no idea what she is like inside, what she thinks, or feels. The uncomfortable part is simply the onlooker's interpretation. And Maas has given a great argument supporting my point - Elain herself has said that Nolan has been the only one who has seen "the real her", thus making both Nesta and Feyre unreliable narrators and interpreters of their Sister's actions towards Lucien. There could be a million other reasons why Elain avoids her mate and "shrinks" around him. Let's not forget that both her sisters also resisted the mating bond before getting together with their significant others, so her being averse to the mating bond means very little at this point for the Elucien endgame. Moreover, Elain has shown that she can stand up for herself, she is no pushover - after getting rejected by Azriel she went and returned the gift, making a stance. Meanwhile, it's been more than two years and we are yet to see a solid rejection from her when it comes to Lucien. What is making us think that she is unable to straight up say she doesn't want to see him? She could've at the very least given back the gifts, but we have seen none of it. There is something holding her back and personally, it's the thing I'm most eager to explore in Elain's book.

Lastly, Elucien pair also fits another pattern of Maas writing: Female characters having failed relationships before getting together with their true love. Elain was rejected twice, first by her fiancee and then by Azriel. It's safe to say she went through her fair share of heartbreaks and is ready to explore the long road to her happy ending.

[acourtofthought]

Hi there!

Why would Lucien be heartbroken?

Because of the rules that the author has put into place in her fantasy world.

When it comes down to it, it's not really about what the characters want because they have no autonomy. It comes down to the literary devices the author has used surrounding her characters and it comes down to what she has told us about mating bonds since her biggest trope is Fated Mates regardless of how a pairing starts off.

Rhys didn't truly know Feyre after UTM. He saw her sporadically for a total of 3 months and most of the time she was drugged or in a cell. Really, the only time he was able to connect with her was for maybe a total of an hour all together and when he witnessed her bravery during the trials. Yet he was prepared to drink himself into a stupor on her wedding day because of how devastated he was over her marriage to Tamlin. Are we discrediting what he felt for her though they weren't in love? Though they hadn't courted and he hadn't spent any meaningful time with her?

Lucien probably does know Elain better than Rhys at this point because not only did they also have a sit down conversation when he first came to Velaris but he tugged on their bond, blushed at what he found, we're given a few scenes where they were left alone together, heard of her stabbing the King and has spent more time in Velaris over the last two years than Rhys did with Feyre UTM. She doesn't have to engage with him to any real degree in order for him to observe her and the fact that Cassian's heart strained at the longing on Lucien's face after 2 years is evidence that things are already painful for him.

With broken bonds, the author already told us what we need to know, that it's a burden the male needs to fight through, that it can drive them mad, that even if rejected it will follow them the rest of their lives. That it will also follow Elain for the rest of her life.

Elain saying she doesn't want a mate?

That's not a rule, it's an emotion.

A flirtation with Az?

Something that can change.

But the bond following them forever? It's fixed. And yes, some bonds are chosen poorly, that's also fact, but since Lucien is not like Rhys's father we don't have to worry about that being the case here. It cannot be denied that Lucien is a good male, not when he's almost guaranteed to get a book (since he already had a pov in ACOWAR) so trying to lump him with the father's of Rhys and Tamlin, the only poorly matched bond examples were given, is silly.

Lucien didn't even share a mating bond with Jesminda yet he struggled with the loss of her centuries after her death. When you throw in an actual bond, a link to Elain that connects him in a way he never shared with Jesminda and one that will never go away, I think it's logical to assume it would be something he struggles with based on all the information we've been given. Lucien doesn't have to "know" Elain as well as he does someone he spent time with because the bond gives him insight into who she is in a way he'll never share with anyone else just like Rhys "knew" Feyre before they spent time together. The fact that he's still longing for her is evidence that he does like what he sees / feels through their bond, it's a bridge to her soul.

And if a mating bond was the one thing after centuries that finally made him consider leaving his love for Jesminda in the past then I'm not sure what would be left for him to make him leave both his love for Jesminda and his actual mate in the past. There's nothing that trumps love without a bond and an actual bond, based on how Sarah has written his arc there's nothing greater for him because he already had a great love without a bond. No other female caught Lucien's heart after just Jesminda so how would any regular female catch his heart after Jesminda AND Elain?

It's not babying Lucien's character to acknowledge the past and present tragedies that the author has written him to have. When an author creates that sort of background for a character it typically means she's building up to something great for them. I have never known an author to create a setup like that only to end his story on a mediocre note, where the one great love that could trump his last love decides to reject him too.

I think too often people get caught up in thinking these characters are real but they are no different than any other hero or heroine in any other fantasy novel. Of course Sarah is brilliant with making them feel real but at the end of the day she's following a format that most authors follow and Lucien's setup is no different than say Aragorn from Lord of the Rings. A male not ready to embrace his destiny, leaving the one he wants more than anything behind because he feels it's the best thing for her only to fulfil his destiny and getting the girl in the end.

Sarah wrote Lucien's entire arc since he found about his bond as him sacrificing for Elain. Breaking free of the kings shackles to get to her while Az held Mor, leaving his home to make sure she was safe, entering enemy territory where it was clear he wasn't welcome just to see her, showing devastation at her depression, thinking of ways to help her, leaving by himself on an extremely dangerous mission to follow her vision, racing to her side after the war, having met her father and being able to tell her that he was a good man, leaving again once he realized she wasn't ready, longing for her even two years later after he found a supposed home with friends.

Since their bond snapped, the real story has been about Elain and Lucien and all the obstacles standing in their way, in my opinion it's never truly been about Az and Elain as for most of their interactions As was in love with Mor. Az did not show concern when Elain was at her lowest, he did not support the vision she had, he did not seek her out after the war (and she did not check on his injuries), did not encourage Elain when she offered to search for the Trove, did not seek Elain out when she fought with Nesta, he did not tell her that he was sorry for the loss of her father, he did not give her credit for stabbing the king and saving his brother and he avoided Elain because he couldn't handle her bond (not because she asked it of him or because he thought it was the best thing for her).

It's really not about what Elain wants or Lucien wants or Az wants but about the story the author is telling and it seems clear to me that she's setting up Lucien to end up with Elain because it's what SHE, SJM wants. Because Lucien was the one who really sacrificed time and again for Elain's safety, for her health, for her happiness regardless of what he got of out the situation. Sarah wrote him in exactly the way she did Rhys when it came to his bond with Feyre but her desire to be with Tamlin.

I acknowledge that there was definitely romantic hints for E/riel but only as a red herring in my opinion, something for both Elain and Az to distract themselves with until they were ready to confront their demons. I think we're past that now though so I agree there will not be a love triangle. I think Elain giving back Az's gift and the author sharing no further interactions is meaningful. There's no glances he gives that she turns away from, no longing on her face for Az, no short clipped responses when he tries to ask her something. The lack of anything seems like the end versus Elain and Lucien's last interaction. I realize that it doesn't look favorable for Elucien but the thing is, it's still something to resolve. He still longs for her and she is shrinking back but the reader is left with "what is that about?" "Why is she doing that?" To say "it's because she doesn't like him!" is too much a cop out for a seasoned writer like SJM, her FMC never act like that around their mates without some deeper meaning so it seems there's still something to learn, there's still something layered behind her responses to him versus the lack of any response to Az in the second half of SF (or at least after what happened in the bonus).

Potentially controversial statement here but I swear this is not an attack just a genuine question: why do people assume Lucien will genuinely want/be heartbroken by Elain???

A point I see so often attacking Elain/defending Elucien is that Lucien has “been through too much to be heartbroken again” and “deserves happiness” and “SJM loves his character and wouldn’t just take his mate away” but like…why do we equate mates with happiness and Lucien with liking Elain at all??

Obviously, Lucien is far more willing to try out the bond than Elain is. We know he’s attracted to her physically (but let’s be fr she’s obviously attracted to him too, our fox boy is hot) but beyond that there’s like…nothing to it?? They don’t talk, he doesn’t know her particularly well, the time they spend together is awkward, and Elains initial impression on a lot of people is being simple/boring (I am NOT saying Elain actually is these things, just that’s the vibe she gives off to people as other characters have noted).

I think Lucien is definitely curious about Elain, he grew up believing a mating bond was this big powerful perfect thing and thought he lost his mate ages ago. Elain doesn’t make sense as a mate to him, which seems to make him all the more curious about her. I think there’s also a lot of guilt tied up between them too, we know Lucien feels bad about what he did to Feyre and how he was involved with what happened to the sisters. We also know Lucien is a well bred polite courtier of a man. All these things together make it seem perfectly reasonable why Lucien still tries to speak to Elain, buy her gifts, acts how one would expect a male to act with his mate, is put off by her cold shoulder, etc but I genuinely don’t believe he has real feelings for her beyond the bond (yetttt) because…literally how could he???

Again this really isn’t me hating on Elain, she’s lovely but a pretty private/complex character as well and Lucien doesn’t know her. I’ve seen so many posts lately about how “Lucien would be so crushed to know what happened on Solstice” or “Elain has to grovel for liking Azriel because it’s wrong” or even just the insinuation (which silly goofy characters like Rhys make themselves) that Lucien is ready to blood duel and start throwing hands for Elain and again I just REALLY DONT SEE IT. I think he’s curious about the bond and willing to see the whole mess through but Lucien really has no reason to want Elain any more than she wants him. I know apparently the bonds “effect the males more” or whatever but if Cassian’s ridiculous “I’ll let Rhys threaten my mate any day” self has taught us anything it’s that it’s reallyyyyyy not that simple.

I don’t know I just feel like there’s this weird babying of Lucien’s character I’ve seen a lot in the fandom recently that completely misunderstands him. Like our boy was spitting 10/10 rizz in the first book and gets called hot by 90% of the characters, he is not some underdog here. Elain is not above him and he really doesn’t need her. The love triangle is really more a fandom thing than some actual competition between the characters. Even if Azriel wasn’t involved Elain would still act the same way toward Lucien and I honestly think if he really wanted her/ if they had a connection prior to being told they are mates he’d be handling the situation differently. For now, I think people are assuming he’s a lot more invested than he actually is.

Obviously this is a romance series and there will be drama involving the Elain/Lucien/Azriel love triangle in the next book because that’s been what’s laid out, but if Elain just turned around and said “sorry respectfully I want someone else let’s break this bond” I really don’t think Lucien would be “heartbroken” or “crushed” over it. Again, there’s this whole weird “mating bonds drive males crazy” thing up in the air but I’ve failed to see any real examples in the ACOTAR universe that show me these bonds are a good thing so I’ll believe it when I see it🤧

IDK, overall I know this series is about the sisters but I love Lucien’s character so much and really want to see more of him (and believe there’s a lot to unravel there) and people threatening to not read the rest of the series if next book is Elriel because “Lucien’s been through enough” just seems silly to me because I think his happy ending has nothing to do with Elain. It might involve Elain, yes, but Lucien also has a father, a mother, and a brother out there who are all decent people that would love him which he hasn’t gotten to explore yet. I’m also convinced this man could pull any male or female in Prythian if he wanted so I don’t think just because she’s framed as his big love interest now Elain is his only option.

I know a lot of people feel strongly about their side of the love triangle but I just really want to see all these characters happy and think a lot of people are overthinking it😭 I think SJM has equal probability of making Elucien a great 10/10 ship and ruining their potential and making them Nessian 2.0 so I’m much more concerned with these characters being written well and getting a real happy ending than who that ending is with. I also think ACOTAR has been very limited in scope thus far and Lucien is one of the few characters with the possibly to break out of that mold and get us out of the night court for a bit (yes this is me once again asking for a Lucien TOD book😔✨) . He could still 100% wind up with Elain, but I really just don’t imagine the love triangle/build up to that being as dramatic as people think. Lucien and Az are both decent respectful males and as long as neither oversteps I really just see it coming down to what Elain wants and whatever her choice is I think both characters will respect it and be able to move on perfectly fine.

[theothersarshi]

I’ve been watching Seinfeld lately and - I enjoy it a lot more than I was expecting? I’ve come across the show occasionally for a very long time, but this is the first time I’m actively watching it. The characters are all horrible people in their own way, but that’s part of the charm. 

Elaine Benes came as a huge surprise, though. She’s beautiful - I always knew she was. She’s enthusiastic, full of energy, clever. But she’s also one of the team; she’s not there to be lusted after (except for a couple of moments early on, when she makes her opinion on the situation clear, and in one memorable moment the guys are all presented as dicks because of it). She’s embarrassing. She’s occasionally made of cringe. 

When we meet her, she balances a teaspoon on her nose in the middle of a conversation in a diner and nobody says anything - “that’s unusual”, I said, “cute, but odd that nobody even acknowledges it”. And then, as I kept watching - of course nobody says anything. That’s just Elaine. If she feels like doing something, she will, and she doesn’t need approval, and her friends won’t ask. 

Elaine has, to put it in the words of a character in an episode, no grace. Sure, her hair is perfect, and her makeup too, and her fashion sense is pretty damned good, so she looks picture perfect. But see her in action and she’s... not that. She shouts “Get out!” in disbelief and pushes men so they stagger a couple of steps backwards. She can’t act fake-pleasant in a believable manner, while Jerry does exactly that every once in a while. She can pull off “sexy” if she really wants to, but it’s an act and it gets dropped fast.

In one episode, another woman pisses her off because she won’t hand over even a square of toilet paper, so she takes revenge by stealing all the toilet paper in the diner’s toilet.

She is a bit of a dick! And she is allowed to be one.

I’ve never felt more that a character’s looks are incidental to their character. It’s wonderful. 

[multiverse-imagines]

How do you think Vash would deal with a young boy saying he wants to marry his s/o when s/o is older. The boy glares at Vash and sticks tongue out. Purposely butts into stuff when Vash is trying to be romantic or sweet. He’s a kid so it’s more annoyingly cute than intimidating. and also something similar for s/o where a young girl wants to marry Vash when she gets older and s/o is not bothered by it and finds it funny, “huh. This kid has amazing taste”?

Little Rascals

You and Vash were walking back to the Inn from the general store with some groceries, your hands intertwined. The town was alive with chatter, trucks occasionally cruising the streets, and children playing nearby. 

"Obviously I'm gonna marry (y/n)!" You heard your name, and glanced towards the boys who were kicking a ball around in a circle they had formed, so as not to lose it. It was one of the local boys, Tobias. Since You and Vash had come to town, he had gotten quite the crush on you. Whispers formed in the group as one of them noticed you. A gasp was heard and Tobias scrambled towards the two of you. 

"Good afternoon, (y/n)! How are you?"

"I'm doing well, thank you."

"Do you need help carrying anything?" He excitedly asked about the paper bag in your hands. 

"Hello, Tobias, I think Vash and I have got it handled. I appreciate the offer!" You kindly rejected. He looked up to Vash, and glared his way and stuck his tongue out at him.

"If there's anything I can do to help, It'd be my honor to assist you!" His peaceful persona returned as he acknowledged you again.

"I've got it, thank you. I'm strong enough." You let go of Vash's hand to flex your arm muscles. He laughed, and glanced back at his friends who were impatiently waiting for him.

"C'mon Tobias! We need a fifth person!" One of his friends yelled impatiently. Tobias hesitated, taking one last longing glance at y/n.

"I- I should go, (y/n)! I'll see you around!" He smiled and ran back to his friends. You gave a sigh of relief that he didn't hang around too long. 

"Vash! Mr. Vash!" A little girl ran up to them. This was Elaine, her parents ran the bar in town, "I brought you some donuts!"

"Cool! Thanks, Elaine!" He said graciously, taking the donuts.

"Anything for my future husband!" She swooned cutely as she walked beside them. Vash had a small blush on his face now noticing these were bribery donuts. 

"See, Love? She's got good taste!" You couldn't help but giggle beside him after she had been called away by her parents. 

"Yeah, these donuts were pretty good!" He dodged the statement. Once back in your room, he set down the empty box of donuts, and pulled you to him. 

"You know, I can be helpful, too, right?" An air of uncertainty hinted in his voice.

"And you know I've got good taste, right?" You smirked, taking in the beautiful hue of his eyes. You placed a kiss on his lips, and pushed him onto the bed for some much needed cuddles.

---

Late that night, you visited the bar owned by Elaine's parents, and the little one joined you two at the table.

"And then he's got the cutest face whenever you shower him with compliments! It's like the gears in his brain stop turning!" You gushed about Vash to Elaine, Vash now sporting a blush, and trying to avoid eye contact just as you had been describing.

"He really is so handsome!" Elaine joined in on the showering of compliments.

"See, Honey? I told you this one has good taste!" You smiled to Vash who began chugging his beer to avoid acknowledging that conversation.

[acourtofthought]

Do you think Elain will get gwydion? I remember Sarah posting Blodeuwedd on her pinterest in association with Elain. The name Gwydion continues to show up in the story of Blodeuwedd

I don't think Elain would end up with Gwydion considering her character does not seem set up to become a warrior but, I do think there is something to her being tagged in a photo of Blodeuwedd and what it means for the sword.

Lucien, as Elain's mate, seems connected to that fairytale as he is the substitute for the role of Llew considering Llew was the one who had a wife created for him out of flowers, "the most beautiful maiden anyone had seen". And it was Llew's uncle "Gwydion" who created this wife for him.

"The name Gwydion is a boy's name meaning "born of trees". A name from Welsh mythology. In the Mabinogion, Gwydion was a powerful magician who made his nephew a wife from flowers (Blodeuwedd, meaning "face of flowers").

So we have the name being connected to the Blodeuwedd tale and that name means "born of trees" which is how Autumn Court males are often described. Lucien was a "son of the forest and he looked crafted from it", in SF we have similar imagery for Eris.

Those are two really big points in favor of Lucien getting Gwydion, in my opinion. Not to mention the sword is a symbol of the first High King of Prythian and if anyone is going to take up a symbol of that role, the one who helps maintain the peace across the lands of Pyrthian, human lands and the continent, there really is nobody more suited than Lucien.

The sword is also a Made object and we're told in SF that through Helion and his reaction to the Mask, Lucien has a possible connection to items of the Made variety.

I also really like the symbolism of Lucien having Gwydion and Az having Truth Teller. In the fairytale it's Az's character "Gronw" that tries to kill Llew (Lucien's character) with a spear which LLew evades when he turns into an eagle and flies away (interesting how Helion's beast form seems to match that description).

We have Az who holds all this jealousy towards Lucien, believing that he's not a good male and not deserving of Elain which is sad because the two actually have a lot in common and could have shared a decent connection had Az not let his bitterness get in the way.

If by the end of the series Lucien has Gwydion and Az has Truth Teller, it comes full circle. Where, because the blades were like two long lost friends catching up in HOFAS, Lucien and Az will always find themselves reconnecting over the years because of those blades. I think Az is acting like an ass at the moment but they're always going to be in one another's lives. Elain will always be Feyre's sister and Lucien will always be Elain's mate and Feyre's friends so there's going to be holidays spent together, children birthday celebrations spent together, and so on. I doubt SJM will close out these books where the two males share in animosity and this solution is one way to set right their past, how a friendship of sorts can take shape.

I also really like the thought that Nesta would bestow Gwydion to Lucien after the way she acted towards him once they all realized he was Elain's mate. It would be an acknowledgement from her that he is her brother and a worthy male for her sister. Editing after a conversation with @crazy-ache and an idea she had. It would always be symbolic of Nesta to pass the torch of Lucien taking care of her sister through the sword. I have no doubt that by the time her story is finished, the others will acknowledge that Elain is capable of taking care of herself but, Nesta will always want to know someone is looking out for her. Since I imagine she won't be the one to have that role any longer, it would probably give her peace of mind to have Lucien looking out for Elain (as Elain will look out for Lucien) especially with the knowledge that he has a Made weapon. Nesta has the Trove, Ataraxia, Narben is still out there, the dagger she created, it actually doesn't make sense for the members of the Night Court to keep all made weapons for themselves when Lucien and Elain are supposed to be equals to the members of the IC, just in a different court.

Other than that possibility.....

I don't know that I see Gwyn ending up with Gwydion as Az had a strange reaction when the blades were near one another. I can't imagine him dealing with that day in and day out. Gwyn also named a sword, unprompted, "Silver Majesty" and both Gwydion and TT have black blades (I think Narben will be hers).

If Lucien does not end up with Gwydion, I could see it going to Mor considering her family was the original ruling family of the Night Court and she could possible be a female descendant of Theia's. Bonus points if Az gives up the first Illyrian hero's dagger to Emerie, the first female Illyrian to complete the Rite.

As for Elain, I could see Lucien gifting her a dagger the way he once did Feyre. Something lovely and beautiful that she can keep for self protection and that does not have the bloody history that Truth Teller does.

[daybreakmusings]

You really shouldn't be entertaining accounts like @batboys-cumdumpster. They are 1000% troll accounts. Whenever someone opens the conversation saying that they are "the worlds #1 Nesta anti" but still somehow "want[s] to try to understand where Nesta stans are coming from," just be sure you know exactly who you are dealing with.

Not someone who actually wishes to have an open discussion, or "see someone else's side," but just someone who is just looking for an excuse to fight.

I'm one of the stans who don't see Nesta's interactions with Feyre as abuse. More like petty, stupid sibling fights that are reactionary. Every time Feyre says something Nesta perceives as insulting, she lashes out right back. Admittedly, she is sharper in her response, but her aim is to return the hurt Feyre inflicts.

"So it was me and Nesta, always at each other's throats."

i.e Feyre calls Nesta a burden -> Nesta retaliates in response.

This is a pattern seen throughout the series in fact. Every time someone crosses Nesta, she reacts in turn. Is it always right? No. Is the recipient always undeserving? Also no.

Is this me condoning everything that happened between Nesta and Feyre in the cottage? Of course not. Nesta does have things to own up to. Just as Feyre has things to answer for as well. ACOSF has stated that both sisters have wronged each other. I hope we see more of those discussions between the sisters soon.

Perhaps all sisters had difficulties, fights, chasms between them. She wasn’t perfect, but … neither was Feyre. They had both made mistakes. And both had long, long lives ahead of them. What had occurred in the past did not have to dictate the future.

But I agree wholeheartedly that Nesta never used her mental health as an excuse for her actions or words. She (unlike most of the characters in the books) acknowledges her wrongs.

You're also so right about how much Nesta loves Feyre. And how much, in turn, her sister loves her back. One of the best quotes to describe their relationship was how they were "two sides of the same coin." Both similar people in nature, but while one was free , the other was caged. I do believe that their mother plays a large part in their conflicts with each other, and hope it's something addressed in the future books too.

"I mean, it was always that way with us, and our mother. She only had an interest in Nesta. She ignored me...but Nesta was hers. Our mother made sure we knew it.

What also needs to be addressed is Rhysand and the IC's poor treatment towards Nesta. They without a doubt have only made it more difficult for the sisters to reconcile.

Finally to address some of the comments made by the other account, here are 7 quick points:

Rhysand, Feyre and the IC do share some of the blame for Nesta and Elain being turned. Rhysand and Feyre involved a then human Nesta and Elain in their war, and as such, they become collateral. Above all, they promised protection. It might be hard to admit it, but Rhysand, Feyre and the IC failed the sisters that day. Feyre and Cassian have been noted to be especially gutted about what happened and constantly feel guilty because they do accredit some blame to themselves.

Rhysand has been terrible to Nesta regardless of her interactions with Feyre. Despite everything Nesta has sacrificed and given up for the fae, he refuses to see the good in her, and I believe SJM is setting him up for some serious atonement in the future books based on their latest interaction in HOFAS. I think she might have even said something similar in an interview?

Nesta didn't go after Feyre because she was their source of income? She went out of concern. In ACOMAF, they are still very much well off. Feyre and the bat boys meet them in their manor, and they have servants to attend them. More importantly, I fail to see how as a "feyre stan," you can completely ignore Feyre's own choice of going back to Tamlin because she loved him. Nesta only encouraged her to follow her instincts and do what she thought was right. Nesta has never controlled Feyre's actions or made any choices for her. Can't say the same for Feyre though.

While I agree someone's own health and wellbeing is their own responsibility, the IC's desire to help Nesta wasn't a form of kindness. The IC never hesitated to tell Nesta she was broken or undeserving. And personally, I don't blame Nesta for not opening up to them. She doesn't really know them the way Feyre does, why should she trust them? As for Elain, she was a significant disappointment in ACOSF. Nesta is the kind of person to destroy herself for the people she loves, and when Elain needed her after they were turned, Nesta was there for her. But Elain packs up her bags and forcibly moves her to the house? Elain has the nerve to be so ignorant and selfish about her progress? Elain so easily gives up when it gets difficult and when Nesta's way of grieving is messier than hers? Hard pass.

Nesta didn't tell Feyre about the birth to hurt her. She told her about the birth to point out how her mate has been lying to her all this time. That her mate, with all his talks of "choice" has no problem making choices on behalf of them both. She reacted in anger towards her own situation and it prompted her to point out to Feyre how she has been wronged too. Even Feyre herself says this...so what are you going on about?: "Cassian sighed through his nose. She … He thought it over. I think she saw the parallels between your situations and, in her own way, decided to avenge both of you. That’s my feeling, too."

Rhysand shouldn't have lied about the pregnancy, on that we are agreement. And if Feyre's anger and disappointment in him is anything to go by, she also doesn't give him a pass. When you think about Feyre's own journey of being independent and making her own choices, I can't imagine that she would like to be kept in the dark. Look at one of her best lines in ACOMAF: "I don't want to hear you tell me that you decided I was to be kept in the dark while your friends knew, while you all decided what was right for me." I hate to say it (not really lol), but this was a shitty thing to do. Feyre would not have been angry if it wasn't. Rhysand wouldn't have apologized or felt bad either if it wasn't.

Feyre isn't exactly forgiving all the time. She still holds Tamlin in contempt and absolutely resents her mother. But she loves her sister and not out of mere obligation. You can see that by how she tries to help her. What she needs to work on, however, is how to understand her. Regardless, Feyre wants Nesta in her life. Desperately. Feyre even gets jealous when Nesta confides in Amren instead of her. I can't imagine why you refuse to acknowledge how deeply the sisters care for each other, but maybe something to work on?

In the end, I see you and other accounts like you for what you are. I can write dissertations about how great Nesta as a character is, and you wouldn't even give it a second glance. I can talk about how abusive Rhysand has been to Feyre and you would find a way to excuse and centre him, because your conditional love for Feyre as a character only exists as subsidiary to your overarching love for him. I could even talk about the ways Feyre has misused and abused her powers as High Lady over her sisters, and it would fly over your head because you would think it deserving.

You seem very set in your ways based on your response. Nevertheless, posts like these exist whenever you decide you truly want to reflect and learn from others.

I am looking for an open discussion.

I am the worlds #1 Nesta anti, but I want to try to understand where Nesta stans are coming from. So, Nesta lovers, please comment, rb, or dm me why you love Nesta with as much detail as possible. Try to get me to see your side, because all I see is an abuser using her mental health as an excuse for the way she treats people.

[psychee92]

Why ACOTAR 5 Is (Without a Doubt) Elain’s Book

Warning: This post will be a long one, and will analyze the series as a whole (including ACOSF). As you read it, please consider taking your shipping goggles off, as none of this has anything to do with shipping and everything to do with character development/plot/the overall narrative of the series/good storytelling. Thank you!

Main points: 

Elain’s role in the ACOTAR series

Elain’s character evolution throughout the series

The foreshadowing in ACOSF (+ bonus POVs)

The overarching plot 

SJM’s own words

The ACOTAR Series and Elain’s Role

We have multiple interviews of SJM saying that Nesta and Elain’s role started off as a fairytale trope: that of the evil sisters. Then, Nesta surprised her when she decided to go after Feyre in ACOTAR, and the rest is history.

The sisters went from being a trope to being an instrumental part of the series. In ACOMAF, they were a link to Feyre’s human life (a final thread that she needed to let go of), as well as a means to an end (first, by being a bridge between the IC and the Queens, and then, as leverage, or weapons that were used against Feyre in Hybern). The final scene in ACOMAF was the catalyst for everything that happened in ACOWAR—and everything that is yet to come—but, most importantly, it also opened the door to two new character arcs/journeys—two new protagonists.

The protagonist exists as a sympathetic device to drive a story. To be effective in this role, they are usually there from the inciting moment to the end.

The similarities between their journey and Feyre’s are astounding: human made into something that she was raised to fear; coming to terms with trauma; letting go of the past; accepting her new condition; and the list goes on and on.

Now, who had more to lose by becoming fae?

And who lost more than anyone else?

Elain lost a future.

She was happy, content, in love.

Then, everything was ripped away from her in the span of a few minutes.

She was turned into something she had been raised to fear, something that her own fiancée had been raised to hate.

And, if that wasn’t enough, she was also forced into a bond neither her, nor Lucien, wanted. Mated to a man who participated, even if unknowingly, in the loss of her life—of her future. A man who did not know her, want her, love her.

This, right here, is good storytelling. It sets the stage for what is to come—for Elain’s future story and character arc.

ACOWAR is centered around repercussions:

For Elain, this book is one of healing, at least on the surface. SJM built the foundation of Elain’s journey, evidenced by:

Elain hitting rock bottom

Erasing any hope of a future with Graysen

Severing the last thread to her human life (with the death of her father)

This book also emphasizes Elain’s vital role in future books by:

Making her powerful (a seer)

Making her instrumental in the war against Hybern (due to her visions)

Having her save both, Nesta and Cassian (the protagonists of ACOSF)

Creating a connection between her and Vassa (and, ultimately, between Lucien, Vassa, and Jurian)

Having her introduce the next big bad (Koschei)

Hinting at her being the only one who can locate the one thing that can kill Koschei (the onyx box)

So, when you add everything that we know from ACOMAF and ACOWAR, what do we have? Potential.

We also have a character whose journey has been building since ACOTAR. The most significant hint is the constant use of the “dirty hands” imagery in reference to Elain. But more on that later.

Once the ACOTAR series wrapped up, we learned that, while Feyre and Rhysand’s journey was over, Sarah had more stories to tell—specifically, Nesta, Elain, and the ICs. As such, ACOFAS had two purposes:

To wrap up Feyre and Rhys’s story.

To introduce the future plot/main conflict and, with it, the next couple.

ACOFAS, however, also served to set up the stage for future protagonists, as well:

We saw some progress in Elain (her keeping busy with gardening and baking, her still having bad days, her friendship with Nuala and Cerridwen, and her slowly finding her place within the IC)—all of this was brought up again in ACOSF.

We got hints about Azriel and Elain’s growing feelings for each other (a storyline that was present throughout ACOSF, and confirmed in Azriel’s Bonus POV).

We learned about Azriel’s estate—Rosehall.

We got Mor’s POV, and learned some new things about her which will probably factor into her future book.

Again, SJM spent time focusing on Elain, fleshing out her character (while still giving Nesta and her journey center stage), which only solidifies the fact that she will be getting her own story soon.

It’s interesting to note that Azriel was not given a POV like Mor, and had very little character development (in comparison to Elain).

Now, let’s look at ACOSF. We have:

New conflicts—with the Queens and Beron

A new villain—Koschei

An overarching plot that connects the conflicts with the villain—the alliance between Koschei, the Queens, and Beron

A secondary, but related, plot—Vassa and, with her, the Band of Exiles (Lucien and Jurian)

Potential weapons—the Made objects

A potential solution—the onyx box

What do all of these have in common?

Elain.

She is directly tied to both, the Queens and Beron (and the Autumn Court). She’s had ties to Koschei since ACOWAR (she was the first to tell the IC about him, after getting visions about him). Her visions, in turn, led to the introduction of Vassa, which created a link between them both (and Lucien, because of their mating bond). She is the only one, apart from Nesta, who can find the Made objects (and a 4th one was introduced in ACOSF). She is also the only one, apart from Nesta, who can Make an object. Finally, she is the only one who can locate the onyx box (an image she’s been seeing since ACOWAR).

As a seer, Elain is arguably the most valuable character in the NC. She has been having visions about both, Koschei and Vassa, since ACOWAR.

Most importantly, however—her journey has been hinted at since ACOMAF:

Her role in future books having already been established, what about Elain as a character, as a protagonist? 

Let’s begin by looking at what a character arc is:

While main characters might face big challenges, character arcs have to do with internal, personal change. Characters will find their strengths and weaknesses tested over the course of the story—so that by the time they arrive at the story's end, they are a changed person.

When the protagonist overcomes external obstacles and internal flaws in order to become a better person, it becomes a hero’s journey.

At its core, this arc is made up of three points:

The Goal: Every character needs to have a goal. It might be to fall in love. Or it might be to make as much money as possible. Either way, their journey will be hindered by...

The Lie: A deeply-rooted misconception they have about themselves or the world that keeps them from reaching their true potential. In order to reach their goal, they’ll need to acknowledge and overcome the Lie, by facing…

The Truth: While the character may have their own plans, the positive change arc has its own goal: self-improvement. This is achieved when they learn to reject The Lie and embrace The Truth.

Now, let’s look at what we know about Elain:

The Goal: To defeat Koschei/the Queens/Beron.

The Lie: That she doesn’t have what it takes. That she is not as strong as her sisters. That she is the weak link, too gentle and sweet to get her “hands dirty.”

The Truth: That she is just as powerful AND capable as her sisters, and that she can do anything she puts her mind to (find the 4th object, discover the location of the onyx box, fight against Koschei/the Queens/Beron).

We already see SJM start to break down the Lie in Feysand’s Bonus Chapter:

This is followed by Feyre saying:

So not only is Elain not afraid to get her hands dirty, she’s also not afraid of getting hurt in the process.

ACOSF is filled with moments that hint at Elain becoming just as powerful (if not more so) than her sisters. She has a very important role to play in future books, because she is the only one who can locate Koschei’s box and the 4th object. Her visions have been instrumental in the series so far, and there is a big hint that she might have more than just seer abilities:

Powers. Plural.

It makes sense for Elain’s book to be next. SJM has been scattering crumbs for her story since ACOTAR, and she is the character who would add the most to the plot—the only character who can move the plot forward.

You cannot ignore all the foreshadowing:

= a literary device that writers utilize as a means to indicate or hint to readers something that is to follow or appear later in a story.

Clear foreshadowing in ACOSF (it would take too long to list all the passages in previous books, as well): 

These are just a few examples but, for me, the one that gives it away is this passage (that can easily be overlooked) in Feysand’s Bonus POV:

SJM is basically telling us that, once Nesta’s journey ends, Elain’s will begin.

And it makes sense!

This series is about the Archeron sisters. About human women turned fae.

The first three books were about Feyre. The fourth about Nesta. It would not make sense to skip Elain, only to return to her story in the final book. Why?

Because, in order to defeat Koschei, all three sisters need to have reached their full potential. All three need to be healed, and strong, and fully in control of their lives and powers. You cannot cram everything into one book: Elain’s healing journey/character arc, Vassa’s own journey (because there is no way that SJM will NOT write a Swan Lake retelling—just look at her Pinterest board!), finding the 4th object, finding the box, and, ultimatly, defeating Koschei.

Feyre had a whole book to heal—ACOMAF

Nesta had a whole book to heal—ACOSF

Elain will have a whole book to heal, as well.

No other character adds as much value—or has as much untapped potential—than Elain.

Also, there is no way that SJM will postpone telling her story in favor of a male character (Azriel). If you’ve read any of her books, you know that it is always the female characters that eclipse the male characters.

Also, if Elain will become dark or even a villain (temporarily), then this will take place in her own story, and will not be used as a plot device for angsty!Azriel or for another couple to make sense/be pushed together.

If we look at the pattern in ACOTAR, we have:

The first book ends with a happily ever after. The MC has defeated the big bad and has walked off into the sunset with her LI. There are hints about a future conflict, but nothing is fleshed out (in ACOTAR, Feyre’s bargain with Rhys + a potential conflict between the courts and with Hybern).

The second book is all about development (both, character development, in the form of the MC’s healing journey, and plot development). The scene is being set for the final conclusion (the war/battle), and everything that takes place serves to bring the characters closer to the main conflict resolution. The book ends on a false happily ever after (Feysand’s mating bond, having what they need to annul the Cauldron’s powers), followed by a cliffhanger (the sisters turning fae, Feyre returning to the Spring Court).

The last book is centered around defeating the big bad and ends on a happily ever after for (almost) everyone involved. It brings the main players together in a final showdown that ends with good ultimately defeating evil.

If we are to look at this pattern, then:

ACOSF - Ends with a happily ever after (Nesta has healed, reconnected with her sisters, found her place in the IC, and has a family outside the IC—Gwyn, Emerie). She has defeated Briallyn, but the biggest threat—Koschei—has barely made an appearance, and there is no ending in sight.

ACOTAR 5 - Elain’s healing journey. Finding the 4th object. Knowing exactly what has been happening behind the scenes with Beron, the Queens, and Koschei. Finding the 4th object and uncovering the location of Koschei’s onyx box. Cliffhanger: Koschei has been freed/has found a way to free himself.

ACOTAR 6 - The journey to find the onyx box or a way to destroy whatever is inside. The repercussions of Koschei’s freedom. Vassa’s story coming full circle. Now that all three Archeron sisters have reached their full potential, they will most likely join forces/powers to hold off Koschei long enough for Vassa (because she NEEDS to have the killing blow) to finish him off.

This post is already long enough, but here are some honorable mentions that I haven’t spoken about because I wanted this to be a mostly character-driven argument:

The mating bond—Elain needs to either accept it or reject it, and I cannot see this happening in the last book because it would lose its effect (considering that they need to defeat Koschei in this book)

Elriel—The unresolved feelings between them need to be addressed/dealt with.

The Blood Duel—There is no way this isn’t happening. SJM wouldn’t mention it without it playing some sort of role in Elain’s book.

I might make another post (because I still haven’t addressed everything I wanted to), but Elain’s book is (without a doubt) next.

As a reminder: SJM has recently said that writing about characters that are hated/disliked is something that she loves doing. I think it’s safe to assume that, given the recent wave of hatred/dislike towards Elain, we are in for an epic journey.

[akingdomofswordsandstories]

Unrequited

azriel (acotar) x reader

Summary: takes place during acofas, you and Azriel are mates but he doesn’t know it yet, angst, fluff, and everything in between

*Also this is my first imagine ever so I'm sorry if it sucks lol! There will be a part 2 to this, but I am still working on it!!

word count: 3927

---------------------------------

The winter solstice was in a few days and you weren’t sure what to get some of the inner circle. You walked briskly down the streets of the Rainbow, chilled to the bone due to the wind. You had made the dumb mistake of rushing out of the townhouse - to avoid any questions of where you were going - without taking your scarf. Your current outfit, which was a chunky knit blue sweater with leggings and boots, wasn’t enough to keep the chill away. But the cold wasn’t the most important thing on your mind. You had already bought presents for Rhys, Feyre, Amren, and Elain, but that left Cassian, Mor, and Azriel. Mor and Cass would be pretty easy to buy for, but you put it off knowing they would look through your room trying to find their solstice gift. But Azriel, that would be much harder.

Every waking hour, the shadowsinger haunted your thoughts. Something you had come to conclude was unrequited.

You had realized the mating bond between you two before he did.

It had clicked a few months ago while on a diplomatic mission. The aftermath of Hybern had left things chaotic, and if you were being honest, it still was. Rhys decided to send Cassian, Mor, Azriel, and you to travel to some of the other courts to bring back reports on the recovery after the war. However, traveling did have some dangers. While you were on your way back to Velaris from the Winter Court, your group was ambushed by a group of Hybern soldiers who had been hiding out in the mountains. Had it not been for Azriel’s wings shielding you from the initial arrows, you would’ve surely been dead, and that’s when it clicked for you. But like an idiot, you didn’t say anything.

You had thought if the bond had clicked for you, it would've clicked for Azriel too. You realized your mistake when Azriel hadn’t acknowledged any change between you two. You hoped that he would figure it out in the coming weeks, but he didn’t. You knew the same sort of situation happened with feyre and rhys so you still held out some hope. But as the months went by, and you realized the bond still hadn’t clicked for Azriel and it felt too late to tell him.

At least that was the excuse you made up. Truly, you were also afraid of the rejection that could have followed. You weren’t a fool, you knew him and Elain had some sort of connection, and that shattered your dreams even more. The possibility that he wouldn’t accept the mating bond to be with the fair skinned, doe eyed fae. Everytime Azriel was in the same room as Elain, she was the only thing he would pay attention to. During gatherings, you would plaster on a smile and act as if you were happy, but Cassian and Mor, your best friends, could sense your discomfort. They tried to ask you about it, but seeing as you would shut down anything they said, they decided not to pry too much. Amren ended up figuring out the source of your discomfort had to do with Azriel, but kept your secret until you would be ready to share it.

You came to the conclusion that distancing yourself from him would be the best option, so that's what you did.

You walked down the street till you got to one of the finest seamstresses is Velaris. Since you were an artist like Feyre, you decided to draw out a dress and have it made for Mor. The color was blood red, her signature. It was a silk slip dress that would come down to her mid-lower calf and it would be embroidered with a brilliant gold thread. You drew out a pattern of the sun, stars, and moon, which you hoped she would like. To go along with Mor’s dress, you got a jeweler to make a custom necklace and bracelet set to go with it. You designed more dainty jewelry that had gold stars with diamonds, since she was a dreamer.

You decided to design Cassian’s gift as well, creating a beautiful silver and black dagger with a moonstone on the hilt. It was a beautiful dagger, but you also made sure it was usable, because you would hate for it to go to waste. To add onto the combat theme, you also decided to buy him new fighting leathers with touches of red embroidery to match his siphons. Lastly, you bought Cassian a bottle of fae wine, which definitely wouldn't last long.

The last thing you got for all three of you was a friendship necklace. Although that sounds corny, the two of them had become such a positive force in your life and you couldn’t imagine life without them. Keeping with the celestial theme for the friendship necklaces, you bought a sun, a moon, and a star. The sun for Cassian, the moon for Mor, and the star for you. Although they are opposites in some ways, all three need each other, just like the three of you needed each other.

Now that you had gotten Mor’s and Cassian’s solstice gifts figured out, it was onto Azriel’s gift. You honestly had no clue what to get him. Due to distancing yourself, you weren’t sure if there was something that he wanted. You were positively stumped. Lucky for you though, you ended up spotting Mor in another shop a few stores down from where you were, most likely getting the rest of her solstice gifts. You decided to sneak up on her as a friendly prank. Grabbing her shoulders, you yelled in her ear, making her jump.

“Oh mother above, it’s just you, y/n! You scared the life out of me” Mor said.

“Doing some last minute shopping?” you asked. “I could ask you the same thing”. Giving her a playful smack on the arm, the corners of your mouth curled upward, even the simplest remark from her could make you smile.

The two of you were currently standing in front of a jewelry shop, looking at the collections of necklaces and earrings through the window. “Wow” you breathed out “These are all so beautiful”

“Indeed they are, although they’re quite pricey”

“How pricey is pricey?”

She whispered the amount in your ear and you stopped breathing for a second, “Holy Mother wow, that is quite the price tag. At least we can admire it from a far”, you laughed out. Even though you got a very generous salary from Rhys, you still felt guilty spending so much money on materialistic things.

After a moment you said, “Actually, since you’re here, I do need help finding a solstice gift for Azriel”, softening your voice at the end, “Any ideas?” you asked, drawing out the syllables.

“Well, I always get Azriel some cool towels, clothing, or a dagger!” Mor said. A small scoff came out of my mouth as I shook my head and raised my eyebrows. “Fine!” she exclaimed, “I may have overheard him needing a new leather sheath for Truth Teller.” grumbling towards the end. “Oh that sounds great, thank you for the help! Now let’s go off to the closest leather goods store and find a sheath!”.

“y/n! I still have shopping to do” a scowl appearing on her face. “Fine, I guess I’ll just call Cassian, cause his judgement might be better than yours, when it comes to knife related things of course” you said, baiting her.

“Ugh, I hate you y/n”

“I hate you too Mor”

“Fine, let's get going before I change my mind” she grumbled. Then we took off down the streets of the Rainbow to find a sheath.

The task was easier said than done, for you at least. Being indecisive and a major over thinker, you had looked through close to 100 sheaths, but none of them seemed good enough to hold the blade that Azriel never let anyone else touch. Except Elain.

While you were lost in your thoughts, you laid your y/c eyes on the perfect sheath. It had a bright cobalt blue stitching to match Az’s siphons. Along the tip and lining the top of the leather was a thin coat of silver plating with little sapphires embedded in the metal. You quickly snatched it up and paid a hefty price for it, but it was perfect.

“Thank god you finally picked one, it felt like we were in that store for centuries”. Mor sighed, probably a sigh of relief for getting out of the store, “But y/n, it’s perfect, I know Azriel will love it”

“Do you really think so? I just want it to be the perfect gift and I’m scared he won’t like it because what if it’s too simplistic and what if-”

“Hey! It's perfect! Don’t stress too much y/n. And for the record, I think that you’re an amazing gift giver - the amount of thought you put into gifts make it all the better.”

You could feel a blush creeping up your cheeks and mumbled a small thank you.

“Anyway while we’re here do you need to get anything to go with your solstice outfit?”

“Oh Actually, I was so stressed about getting everyone’s solstice gift that I forgot to buy my dress” your voice falling off at the end. You felt yourself being yanked to a harsh stop and the saw Mor’s face staring at yours, mouth gaping and eyes wide.

“Are you crazy?? Solstice is in 3 days and you still don’t have anything??? Oh honey, our shopping isn’t done yet.” And with that statement you found yourself being pulled into the nearest dress shop. After trying on nearly 20 dresses you finally found the perfect one, which Mor approved. It was a light blue silk dress that was more fitted at the top but flared down at your waist. It had a cowl neckline, a slit going up the side to the mid upper thigh, and accentuates your curves beautifully and has a slight shimmer to it. You looked ethereal in it

---------------------------------

After your exhausting day of shopping, you couldn’t wait to get out of the cold. You swiftly walked back to the townhouse. Once inside you made your way to your room to set down the gifts, change your clothes, and grab your book. Then you quietly headed down to the kitchen to make yourself a cup of tea and sat on the couch to read. The house was quiet since all of the others decided to go to Rita’s tonight. You decided to stay home for some much needed relaxation. You opened your book and started reading. After a few hours, you felt your eyes drooping and eventually, sleep consumed you.

The loud noise of the front door caused you to stir and your eyes fluttered open. You were too exhausted to look so you just laid your head back down and tried to go to sleep. You could hear Mor whispering something and then felt yourself being lifted off the couch and being held close to a chest with your blanket still draped on you.

“Cass?” you whispered hoarsely along with a string of incoherent words

You heard a slight laugh “Not Cass but It’s ok, go back to sleep”. Then you felt yourself being gently placed on your bed and the sleep hit you before you could mutter a thank you.

---------------------------------

The sun was setting towards the sea as you sat in the sitting room of the town house. You were in your blue silk dress with a glass of wine in your hand. Rhys and Feyre were by the mantel, quietly talking while Mor and Amren were across the room. Near the window I saw Elain, and from the corner of my eye I could see Azriel making his way towards her. My face fell but I quickly plastered on a smile, not wanting to concern anyone. Especially since today was also Feyre’s birthday and we had planned a surprise for her. Feyre thought she could slip her birthday past us, but we hadn’t forgotten. After a few minutes, Cassian made his way from the kitchen with the enormous cake.

You floated towards Feyre and gave her arm a light squeeze. “Happy Birthday, make a wish before the candles melt!”

She blew out the candles and then we ate cake before opening up the presents.

---------------------------------

Rhys snapped his fingers and piles of brightly wrapped bags and boxes filled up the sitting room. Amren was the first to open her presents. Naturally, everyone got her something jewelry related. Amren opened mine and you saw a wide smile set across her face, she picked up the diamond necklace and nodded a ‘thank you’ your way. You returned the gesture back, a small smile forming on your face.

Next, Cassian handed Mor her present from him and she pulled out a-. You couldn’t believe what you were seeing. He bought her red lingerie. Your face turned slightly red, but the Mor said “Don’t let him fool you: he couldn’t think of a damn thing to get me, so he gave up and asked me outright. I gave him precise orders. For once in his life, he obeyed them.”

Then, you heard one sharp knock at the door.

Nesta.

You saw Cassian tense up a bit. Nesta walked in, linking arms with Elain. She got a glass of wine before heading to sit in a chair in the back of the room. The silence was deafening. Finally Varian started talking and the present opening resumed.

From Amren, you received a new calligraphy set. It was so beautiful and you loved it. From Rhys, you got some books. It was perfect since you loved to read, and they were ones that you had been wanting to read for a long time. From Feyre, you received a painting as well as a new paint brush kit.

Cassian made his way to you and set a gift down in your lap. You opened the dark blue box that Cassian had placed in your lap. He had gotten you a sky blue hardbound journal with a gold embossed star on it. You desperately needed a new one, and this was perfect. You walked over and gave him a hug, whispered “Thank you, I love it.”.

Next you opened Mor’s present. You nearly choked when you saw what she got you and your whole face heated up. She got you a matching navy blue lingerie set like the one Cassian bought her.

“Yeah, I wasn’t too sure what to get you so I thought we could twin”. You looked around the room and saw the others holding in their laughs. You could’ve sworn you saw a tinge of red on Azriel’s ears. You just smiled and mouthed a silent “I’m going to kill you, but thank you” at her.

There wasn’t anything from Azriel. Your heart twinged. Had you not been important enough? It was just a present you reminded yourself, fixing your composure before handing Cassian his present.

He ripped it open like an animal, squealing when he saw it. A promising reaction given the amount of thought you put into it.

“Did you design these? They look amazing!”

“Yeah, I’m glad you like it. It took a long time to figure out what to get for your dumb ass”

“You mean my cute ass”, you smacked his arm and then got up to give Mor her present.

You closely watched her reaction as she opened her dress and jewelry, a large smile spreading across her face.

“You really buy the perfect presents y/n, I love it”.

“Oh Cass, Mor. One more thing.” You pulled out the small boxes with the friendship necklaces and bracelets handing it to them. “This was just a little something extra I thought of, I hope you like it”. You knew you would have started stuttering and crying if you had said the meaning to them, so you just handed them notes instead. They read over them, eyes glossing over, and pulled you into a hug.

“This is the only time I’ll wear jewelry” Cass stated, causing you to chuckle

Then Mor said, “I am never taking this off” causing you to laugh again.

Finally, Azriel opened up his presents. He had opened up all the others. All that was left was yours and Elain’s gift to him. He found his way to your present first, opening it.

“A new sheath for Truth Teller. I heard you needed a new one” you quietly said.

He held your gaze and smiled, “Thank you, it's great”. Suddenly feeling exposed, you quickly gave him a nod.

Then he went to open Elain’s gift. “It’s a powder to mix in with any drink.” she said.

Silence.

Elain bit her lip and then smiled sheepishly. “It’s for the headaches everyone always gives you. Since you rub your temples so often.”

Silence again.

Then Azriel tipped his head back and laughed.

You hadn’t heard him laugh before, and mother above it was gorgeous. You had never heard a sound so deep and joyous, a sound which made your heart clench. A part of you wished you were the reason he was laughing. You forced on a smile and spent the rest of the night drinking away the slight pain in your chest.

You were exhausted by the end of the night, sitting on the couch with Cassian and Mor, Azriel and Rhys seated on the opposite side of you.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw movement towards the door, and craned your head to see what was going on. It was Nesta making her way to the door. You felt the couch lift next to you.

Cassian. He had swiftly pushed past Feyre and went after Nesta. This wouldn’t end well.

---------------------------------

Cassian had come back quiet and brooding, walking straight to the kitchen to pour himself a glass of liquor. You got up off the couch and followed him straight into the kitchen.

“Cass, let’s take a walk, yeah?”

“I just took a walk”

“It wasn’t a question”. You grabbed a white shawl and his hand and led him outside. “What happened?”

“What’s there to talk about? It was like all the other times. Why did I have to fall in love with someone who doesn't even love me back. Who looks at me like the Illyrian born bastard I am. Who hates the idea of being in the same room as me.”

You grabbed Cass’ hand, lightly squeezing it. “Don’t say that. Nesta, she,” your voice stopping for a second “She’s different. The way she handles pain and copes is different. Give her time. She just needs time. I know how much that may pain you, but you can’t rush healing”

You pulled him into a hug

“And for the record, I know the feeling more than you know” you quietly said “unrequited love”, head pointed at the ground.

Cassian tilted his head down to look at you, his face painted with confusion. You could tell he wanted to know more, but didn’t want to pry too much.

You hesitated before continuing, not sure if you wanted to reveal your closely guarded secret. “I-“ your voice faltering, “I found my mate”. The words seemed to have rushed out of your mouth and tears pricked your eyes as you said that. After months of hiding it, you had finally gotten it off your chest.

Cassian stood shocked, staring at you. “You found your mate? And you didn’t think to tell any of us? How long ago was this”

“I-, I found out who he was around the same time Rhys sent us on that diplomatic mission. And I didn’t tell anyone because he doesn’t even know yet.”

“That was almost 6 months ago, and you didn’t say anything?”.

The tears had started flowing at this point, “I thought he would figure it out. But by the time I realized he wasn’t going to figure it out, it was too late. He had already set his eyes on someone else. And I know I could never compete with Elain, even if I am his mate.” the last part slipped out without you realizing.

“Elain? What does she-“ his eyes widening “Does that mean Az is-“

You slowly nodded, tears welled up, threatening to spill out.

“Oh, mother…”, he pulled you into a tighter hug and that’s when the gates broke. You couldn’t hold back your tears as you sobbed into Cassian's chest, his hand stroking your back.

you must have been there for 15 minutes before you realized the other might start getting suspicious. Regaining your composure, you dried your tears and tried, to the best of your ability, to hide that you had been crying.

Looking back at Cassian, you gave him a slight smile before muttering, “Thank you. I’m sorry for dumping that on you, but please promise me you won’t tell anyone. Please.”

“Of course y/n, and don’t apologize, if it makes you feel better, it helped to take my mind off of Nesta and my own problems, which I desperately needed” he chuckled out.

With the smile still on your face, you linked arms with Cassian before saying, “Oh mother above it’s freezing, let’s get back inside before we turn into popsicles!”

He let out another laugh before the two of you made your way back into the house.

---------------------------------

You walked into the house and your sliver of happiness was crushed as you saw Az and Elain sitting at the table smiling and laughing quietly to themselves. Elain had her sketchbook out, showing Az her plans for the garden.

Your distraught had been clear to anyone who saw your face, and you were too tired to realize you weren’t able to hide it fast enough. Not being able to view the scene anymore, you quickly got up, muttered happy solstice, and grabbed your coat and purse before heading out the door to your apartment.

While walking home, you were consumed by your thoughts. You hated the pangs of jealousy that coursed through you. You often found yourself jealous of her soft spokenness and kindness. You also found yourself jealous of her effortless beauty. It was something that kept you up at night. She was so likeable and easily approachable, something you wished you were.

You were so drowned in your own thoughts that you hadn’t noticed a male following you till it was too late. One of his hands clamped on your mouth while the other grabbed your waist and pushed you into the nearest alleyway.

The male pulled out a knife and your tears started to fall. You were terrified about what he would do to you. This could be the last time you would have seen your family. You were struggling and kicking against him but it was no use. Your senses were groggy from the alcohol and drowsiness.

You had been so stupid to walk home alone at 2 in the morning. No matter how angry you were, you should’ve just stayed at the town house.

Before you could realize what was happening, you felt a sharp pain shoot through your side.

The sound of a clatter.

Receding footsteps.

A crimson stain blooming.

Your body crumpled to the ground and your vision started blacked out. This was it. Nobody could hear you and nobody could save you.

[ncssian]

A Favor: Part Twenty

Nessian Modern AU

Masterlist

a/n: sorry for the wait yall this month really kicked my ass,, but also we reached part 20!!

tw infertility discussion

***

Gwyn: isn’t he beautiful <3

In the freezing February air outside the tea house, Nesta clicks on the picture attached to Gwyn’s text. It’s a distant shot of a man in his mid-thirties hunched over a library desk while working, unaware that there’s a camera on him. She’ll give it to Gwyn, though—he is a little handsome.

Emerie: the stalker levels are through the roof, gwyneth. seek help.

Gwyn: no i’m gonna marry him

Nesta doesn’t know whether to laugh or be concerned, but she types out a brief response before her thumbs fall off from the cold: Will give my opinion on him later. Got to go.

Gwyn’s crush will have to wait, Nesta thinks as she finally puts her phone away and pushes her way inside the exquisite tea house. Immediately, blasting heat thaws her frozen fingers and toes, and farther inside she spots the table she reserved for three. Right now, only one person sits at it.

Nesta grits her teeth and approaches the round table, heels clicking softly on the parquet floors. Elain doesn’t look up from the menu she’s reading. “This place would be nicer to visit in the spring,” is her only acknowledgment of Nesta.

“I like the winter,” Nesta answers simply, taking her seat across from Elain. She likes how the ice creeps over the garden outside until everything looks frozen in time, and she likes how the colorful flowers and trees become dulled by white snow. Not that her sister would understand or care.

“Of course you do,” Elain mutters, setting down the menu with all the careful elegance of a debutante. “I’m only here for Feyre, anyway.”

It almost saddens Nesta that she doesn’t feel hurt or offense at the words. She thought she would care more about Elain’s opinion than she actually does. “Where is Feyre, then?” she says, looking pointedly at the empty seat between them. “I thought she was coming with you.”

“I’m right here,” a breathless voice says, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps. Feyre appears, looking flushed from exertion and the cold. She sets her bag down and joins them at the table, scooting her seat all the way in. “Sorry I’m late. What did I miss?”

“Nothing,” Nesta bites. “I was just about to order.”

“So was I.” Elain smiles breezily.

Feyre glances between the two of them, clear concern on her face, but she covers it up and says, “I’m so glad we’re doing this.”

It was Feyre’s idea, of course. After Nesta told her off for never being interested in what she wanted to do, Feyre actually listened. She asked if Nesta wanted to hang out, and then let Nesta fill in the rest of the details on her own terms.

Which brings them to the tea house. Unfortunately for her sisters, however, Nesta doesn’t really know where to go from ordering tea and biscuits.

“How is school going?” Feyre asks her after their drinks arrive.

Nesta sips from her tea, already bored. “It’s been fifteen minutes and you have yet to say anything of substance, Feyre. It makes me miss being alone with Elain and her mood.”

Feyre looks taken aback, and Elain levels a glare at Nesta. An unsurprised, of course you have to ruin everything like this glare.

So Nesta clarifies, “That wasn’t an attack. I just hoped that after driving out here, I would get something better than shallow small talk.”

“And how do you know it was shallow?” Elain steps in harshly. “How do you know she isn’t actually interested in how you’re doing at school?”

Nesta slides blunt blue eyes to Feyre. “If that’s the case, then I commend you. Personally, I wouldn’t give a shit if I was in your position.”

To her surprise, Feyre snorts. She looks resigned when she says, “No, you’re right. I don’t care about what’s going on at school, not if you don’t. What would you rather we talk about then, Nesta?”

Without hesitation, Nesta says, “Ask me something you really care to hear the answer to.”

Elain shuts her mouth and sits back at that. Feyre twists her lips, thinking her next words over carefully. “How is your therapy going?” she finally asks in a cautious tone. “What do you talk about there?”

Remembering that she’s in a formal setting, Nesta stops herself from crossing her arms. She settles on wrapping her fingers delicately around her teacup instead. “We talk about whatever I feel like talking about,” she answers honestly. Although lately her conversations with Lana feel more restrained than usual.

“And what’s that?” Feyre urges.

Nesta shrugs, fitting apathy onto her face like an old mask. “Recently? Childbearing.” But it isn’t her favorite topic of discussion, not at all.

“You’re pregnant?” Elain jumps in, leading Nesta to throw her an unamused look.

“No, idiot,” she says. “My therapist just has the idea that if I end up being infertile it’ll screw me up, mentally and emotionally and whatever. She thinks I should deal with that baggage now instead of saving it for later.” She rolls her eyes thinking about it. How many times does she have to repeat that she doesn’t care about her body’s reproductive abilities until Lana gets it?

Feyre chuckles, confused. “Why would you be infertile?”

Nesta forgot—she didn’t want her sisters knowing anything that has to do with her health. She even made Cassian keep her doctor visits secret from Feyre. But that was months ago, and the sisters are… not exactly in a better place now, but looking for the way there. Nesta thinks she can tell them without any severe regrets. “I have endometriosis.”

When she’s met with silence, she adds, “You know, with the tissue growing on my ovaries and stuff. It might affect all the babies I don’t care to have in the future.”

Elain is the first to speak. “You always wanted to be a mother.” Her voice is soft, almost mourning. It irritates the hell out of Nesta.

“No, I didn’t,” she snaps back.

“You did,” Elain insists. Feyre still hasn’t said anything. “You took care of our cat, Mittens, until the day she died. You taught Feyre her alphabet. You raised me when Mama and Papa were too busy to do it. You never carried dolls around in strollers or anything, but you loved being a mother.”

“I don’t remember any of this,” Feyre says, blinking. “I’m sorry, can we go back to the endometriosis part?”

Nesta sips from her tea, the bitter taste a welcome distraction from Elain’s words. “What about it?”

“How long have you known?” Feyre demands.

“It isn’t cancer. And I’m getting treated, obviously. I’m fine.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

Nesta sighs, setting her cup down. “October. Cassian made me go to the doctor because he was worried about my periods, we had a big fight about health insurance, and now I use my salary from your boyfriend to afford medication so I don’t feel like dying every month. Is that everything you wanted to hear?”

Feyre only stares at her, for once revealing no emotion. “I keep forgetting,” she says finally, “that we’re not at a place to share things like that with each other. I keep being surprised every time I realize how much of your life you keep from us.”

“I don’t,” Elain huffs under her breath while she tears a croissant in half.

Nesta is still watching Feyre. “You remember how bad my cycles were? I would cry loud enough at night to wake the house.”

Feyre flinches at the memory, and Elain goes still.

“But no one ever woke up,” Nesta says. They never talked about it before, and she has no desire to keep speaking about it now. If they start to tally all the hurts they’ve dealt to each other, Nesta fears they’ll be here for hours. Worse, she fears she will lose.

She reaches for a lavender macaron and delicately pulls it apart, studying the cream filling inside. “Did you know they make these using the lavender flowers from the garden outside?”

“I hate lavender,” Elain says.

Spying her chance to shift the subject off herself, Nesta goes for it. “Because Azriel smells like lavender?” She pushes one half of the dainty cookie past her lips, chewing. “It’s an interesting cologne choice, I agree.”

“Wait, what are we talking about now?” Feyre looks around, unaware that they’ve moved onto another topic.

Elain’s innocent brown eyes turn into daggers pointed at Nesta, betrayal written across her face. Nesta feels no pity for her—especially not if they’re going to sit around judging each other for keeping secrets.

Feyre’s eyes widen and she turns to Elain. “Is it about your,” she lowers her voice and whispers, “crush?”

Nesta raises a skeptical brow. She doubts whatever Az and Elain have stops at just a crush.

“No, it’s not,” Elain answers determinedly. “God, do you have to bring men into everything, Nesta?”

“I think you’re projecting.”

“Quit it,” Feyre snaps at the both of them. “Or I’ll grab my things and leave.”

Do it, Nesta almost dares. But she has a feeling that Feyre means it, that she won’t submit to being taunted, so Nesta reins the words back from the tip of her tongue. After all, this tea is expensive.

The sisters take a moment to settle, and Feyre is the one to restart the conversation. “Either way,” she tells Nesta, “it looks like counseling is going really well for you. I’m glad.”

“Yeah, it really gives your skin a certain glow,” Elain drawls.

Nesta doesn’t rise to meet her sarcasm. In all seriousness, Elain and Feyre could probably use a therapist themselves. It might make Nesta’s interactions with them less headache-inducing.

“You should visit one day,” she throws the suggestion out without thinking.

“What, like a therapy session?” Feyre says.

Realizing the implications of her terrible idea, Nesta forces herself not to backpedal. “Yes,” she makes herself grit out. “If you’re interested, that is.”

Elain and Feyre share a glance of hesitation and concern. It’s a glance that grates on Nesta’s nerves, but she keeps her mouth shut and waits for a response.

Feyre answers first: “We’ll do it.”

Elain looks more doubtful, but seems to realize that refusing to go would paint her in a negative light. We can’t have that, can we? Nesta thinks wryly. She reaches for some macarons and starts stuffing them into her purse. “Sounds good. Great.” It is not at all great. Having her sisters in the same room as her and Lana might just be terrible enough to ruin Nesta’s next month or two.

“I’ll text you the details whenever I feel like it,” she tells Feyre and Elain as she rises out of her seat. Likely not for as long as possible.

“Where are you going?” Elain demands.

“I’m leaving.” Nesta pointedly drapes her coat over her shoulders, picking up her purse. “I have plans for the rest of the day, sorry.” Plans to get home and rate Gwyn’s work crush on a scale of one to ten. Maybe she’ll rewatch a sitcom if she has time.

“But it’s only been an hour,” Feyre protests.

Did Feyre think they would be spending the whole day together? Nesta wants to shudder at the mere idea of it, but she somehow… feels bad for her sister. “Maybe another time,” she promises vaguely. To provide some sort of reassurance, she adds, “I had fun today. Thanks for pulling this together.” The words are hollow, fake, and she’s probably a hypocrite for not being able to return the same sincerity she demanded from Feyre. But honesty isn’t going to get Nesta very far today, so this false politeness is the best she can manage.

Elain looks somewhat relieved, and Feyre looks disappointed but unsurprised. “Alright.” The girls nod at her. “Get home safe.”

She turns and leaves as soon as she’s given the green light.

A stale scent greets Nesta when she enters her apartment, reminding her that she hasn’t been around in days. In her defense, the winter months are easier to bear in Cassian’s heated cabin than in a poorly insulated basement.

Flicking the lights on, Nesta books it to the thermostat, her teeth nearly chattering out of her body. After turning the heat as high as it can go, she climbs beneath the covers of her bed without bothering to take her coat off. She doesn’t take out her phone to text the groupchat like she promised she would. She doesn’t even get her laptop to turn Netflix on. Rather, her focus is caught on the framed picture of her and Cassian sitting atop the dresser.

Everything was okay as she stepped out of the tea house. It wasn’t until she was inside her car that it came upon her: the whirlwind of emotions that had stayed so carefully hidden while she chatted with her sisters. All throughout the drive home, her mind kept returning to that one topic. Children.

Elain said that Nesta used to genuinely enjoy playing substitute mother when they were children, and she was right. But that was all fun and games, like playing teacher. What Elain left out was what happened after their actual mother died and their father went into debt, leaving all three girls in need of a parent figure. Nesta wasn’t a mother then—or at least, not a good one.

Now, she stares at the picture full of smiley cheeks and windblown hair, remembering the night that she realized she wanted to hold Cassian’s hand in hers.

She can’t imagine Cassian not wanting kids. They’ve never discussed it, but it’s so obvious to anyone who’s ever met him: he has too much love to give away to not one day end up with a whole brood of children. The thought makes Nesta’s stomach churn.

***

“Thanks again, guys.” Cassian shakes hands with his team as they file out of the conference room, all of them dressed professionally while he lingers in his hoodie. As soon as the last worker is out the door, he pulls out his phone, ready to shoot Nesta a message. She met up with her sisters alone today for the first time in a year, and he can’t wait any longer to find out if their brunch ended in a fight or not.

He clicks on his phone to find two texts from his brother, sent not too long ago.

Rhys: You’re in the office today for the monthly check-in, right?

Rhys: Don’t leave after the meeting is over. I’ll be there in an hour to introduce you to the new guy heading the Milan project.

Cassian frowns, confused. Rhys and the new guy are coming all the way up here to meet him? He didn’t know he was that important to the project.

While he waits for his unexpected guests, Cassian texts Nesta twice, and only receives a single short response saying she got home safe. Resolving to call and have a real conversation with her later, he gets up to change into the spare buttondown and pressed slacks he keeps in a locker in his office. If Rhys wants him to play the part of company boss, then he might as well look the part.

He’s adjusting the cuffs of his dark-colored shirt when the door to his office opens without warning, and Rhysand strides in followed by a stiff-looking young man.

Cassian eyes the stranger up and down first, trying to get a read on him the way he’s seen Nesta and Rhys read others. He doesn’t come up with a single thing, as usual, but he hopes he achieved his goal of looking intimidating.

“Cass,” Rhys greets him with a subdued nod, in full CEO mode. “This is our new hire, Keith O’Connell. I snagged him from right under Vanserra & Co.’s noses.” His near-violet eyes gleam with pride. “He’s going to be working out of Milan for us starting this summer.”

“Sounds good to me.” Cassian smiles lazily, and this is something he doesn’t need to fake—confidence. He reaches out to shake Keith’s hand. “Hi. I’m Cassian Madani.”

“Good to meet you.” The other man shakes back, but his grip is too tight, like he’s trying to break Cassian’s hand. Try-hard, a voice that sounds like Nesta tells him. Uses arrogance to cover up his insecurity.

Cassian takes it all into account as he pulls his hand away, seeing Keith through clearer eyes. His dark brown hair is slicked back with copious amounts of hair product, and a shrewd black gaze takes in every detail of the office. He stands like he’s attempting to seem taller than he actually is.

A typical white-collar worker looking for a way up the corporate ladder, Cassian concludes. Nothing he hasn’t seen before, but there must be a reason Rhys is so excited about him.

“Keith is starting here at your branch next week,” Rhys is saying when Cassian refocuses.

He blinks, unsure if he heard correctly. “What, all the way out here?” Away from Velaris in this modest mountain town?

“We agreed it was best if you two work together as closely as possible while preparing for the summer launch. Since you can’t come to Velaris, that means Keith comes here.”

Cassian looks at Rhys in astonishment. He thought that once he rejected the Milan position, he’d cleaned his hands of the job for good. Clearly he was wrong. “Just how involved am I going to be on this project?”

Rhys grins back at him. “You’ll lead from home base, of course.”

Cassian glares. Rhys responds with a look that says they’ll talk about this later.

Keith seems to find the idea of working alongside another person as distasteful as Cassian finds it unexpected, but he says anyway, “I can’t wait to start working together. I have a lot of ideas for the Italian outpost that I think you’ll appreciate.”

“I’m sure I will,” Cassian hums. “When do you start again?”

“Next Monday.”

“Then we should talk then.” Cassian gestures out the door. Keith looks taken aback, likely having expected more out of this meeting. But Cassian can’t meet with this guy until he gets a hold of what the fuck is going on. After shepherding Keith out of the office and shutting the door after him, he turns to Rhys with a raised brow.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Rhys warns. “Your role in this project is serious.”

“This project isn’t even part of my job description. What am I supposed to know about international business conductions?”

“You know enough to keep an eye on that O’Connell kid for me.” Rhys leans against Cassian’s desk as if it’s his own and crosses his feet. “He’s an asset to the company, but he also worked for our competitors up to a couple of months ago. I can’t trust him to manage this thing on his own, and I don’t have the time or resources right now to watch over him myself. That’s why the duty falls to you.”

“I manage security,” Cassian states, in case it wasn’t obvious. “What about Az?”

“Az has his own things to handle.” Rhys waves him off. “Just do what I tell you to, will you? Pay attention to O’Connell for the duration of the Italy venture and make sure he doesn’t steer our ship off course. You’ll get paid triple for the extra hours.”

“I don’t need triple,” Cassian grumbles, but Rhys is no longer listening. He’s typing on his phone and already heading for the door.

“Feyre and I are having dinner here before heading back home,” he calls over his shoulder. “See you later; I believe in you!” The door shuts after him, leaving Cassian alone.

“Yeah, yeah,” he replies to the empty room.

Cassian leaves not long after Rhysand does, having no excuse to linger. Outside, he’s greeted with a surprise leaning against the hood of his truck.

Nesta pushes off the hood as soon as he catches notice of her. “Long day?” she asks.

He laughs for the first time all afternoon, the sound surprised and genuine. “I was just thinking about you.”

“That’s why I’m here. I heard your thoughts.” There’s a light in her pale eyes that only burns whenever she looks at him. It’s the same light that powers her ability to make jokes and let her guard down around him in a way she can’t with most others, and Cassian is especially grateful for it today.

Nesta reaches out and takes his hand into hers. He watches the way their palms fit together in endless fascination, his brown fingers a stark contrast against her white ones. He squeezes once and looks back up at her. “How did meeting your sisters go? You never told me.”

The light flickers so briefly Cassian wonders if it’s a trick of his eyes. But then Nesta is there again, at full brightness. She squeezes his hand back. “Take me home. I’ll tell you all about it.”

***

a/n: i love writing stuff related to cassian’s job i’ll just be throwing random words in there and calling it business jargon

tagging: @hellasblessed @sjm-things @thewayshedreamed @drielecarla @valkyriewarriors @superspiritfestival @aliveahaahahafuck @cupcakey00 @sayosdreams @rainbowcheetah512 @claralady @thebluemartini @nessiantho @missing-merlin @duskandstarlight @lucy617 @sleeping-and-books @everything-that-i-love @cassianscool @swankii-art-teacher @wannawriteyouabook @awesomelena555 @julemmaes @wickedqueenoffantasy @poisonous-bloom @observationanxioustheorist @gisellefigue08 @courtofjurdan @theoverlyenthusiasticwriter @wolfiixxx @cass-nes @seashade @royaltykxx @illyrianundercover @queenestarcheron @monstrousloves-explodinggalaxies @humanexile @that-golden-lyre @agentsofsheilds @mercy-is-alive @cassiansbigwingspan @laylaameer01 @verypaleninja @maastrash @bow-dawn @perseusannabeth @dead-on-the-inside666 @jlinez @hungryreadingaddict @anidealiveson @planet-faerie @shallowhighwaters @ghostlyrose2 @chosenfamily-valkyriequeens @rarephloxes @readiajin @nessiantrashh @live-the-fangirl-life @ifinallygavein @xoblivisci @sjmships @jungtaekwoonie-is-life @lysandra-tiara @lanyjoy-13 @frosted-crackers @post-it-notes33 @loosingdreams @fromthelibraryofemilyj @18moneytoad @dontgetsalmonella @champanheandluxxury @togreblog

[sevenkittensinatrenchcoat]

Rambling About 1998 Casting

Having seen a ton old, Broadway-based productions, and a ton of newer, London-based productions, so I now have a general idea of what the differences between the two are, I’ve noticed just how much adding Broadway cast members to a mostly London-based show affected the VHS version.

Three Broadway actors were cast in 1998, one from the original cast, and two who were performing at the time.

Ken Page was the original Broadway Old Deuteronomy. Old Deuteronomy’s role is pretty much the same in London and Broadway versions, so there’s not much to comment on with him. But, Munkustrap and Mistoffelees are characters with tons of little differences between versions, so Michael Gruber and Jacob Brent changed more.

But, Michael Gruber’s casting actually didn’t change much. The biggest difference between London Munkustrap and Broadway Munkustrap is the Macavity Fight. Broadway Munk is taken out of the action much earlier. Someone cast as Munk in London would have to learn more fight choreography than someone cast on Broadway. But, the London version of the Macavity Fight was used in 1998. Michael Gruber learned the new choreography for the filmed version.

Mistoffelees is different. Virtually every time the choreography and staging of the character differs between London and Broadway, 1998 uses the Broadway version. Misto’s opening line is Broadway. A large portion of Jellicle Ball choreography (Fugue, Girls, Mungo Entrance, Boys Jump, Tours) is Broadway. Mistoffelees is absent during Skimble’s number, because Broadway had a longer break for Misto actors to change costumes for Misto’s number than London did. The pacing of Misto’s number comes from the Broadway variant where Misto sings the second verse, even though he doesn’t sing it in this version.

There are a lot more changes between London and Broadway with Misto’s stuff than with Munk’s stuff. Munk’s changes were one fight scene. I’m guessing there was too much London choreography for Jacob Brent to learn during rehearsals, so they switched it to what he was already familiar with. 

When Misto was given his Broadway role, if his London role was still needed, it was given to Tumblebrutus. This put Tumblebrutus in many places where I’ve never seen him appear onstage. In Broadway-based productions, “have you been an alumnus of heaven and hell?” is Plato’s opening line. In Broadway-based productions, Munkustrap holds the light at the front of Skimble’s train. In London-based productions, those are both Mistoffelees. Instead of just imitating Broadway and putting Plato and Munk in those places, which would’ve been very easy to do in Munk’s case, they swapped in Tumblebrutus.

Tumblebrutus was played by Fergus Logan, who played Mistoffelees in London at the time, so he was more familiar with these bits, though it must’ve been weird doing them as a different character. He also had to learn the rest of Tumble’s track, but only parts that didn’t overlap with Misto’s track, or with Pouncival’s track when those were swapped out.

Then there’s that reworking of the Jellicle Ball. In every version of the ball, we start out with the entire cast together, but eventually the crowd disperses. 

In London-based productions, Carbucketty/Pouncival has a ballet solo. He crosses the stage and one of the girls, usually Jemima/Sillabub, runs past him. They briefly acknowledge each other. Carbucketty/Pouncival reaches the other side of the stage and Mistoffelees runs out. Weirdly, this step is called “Mungo’s Entrance”, even though I’ve never seen Mungojerrie be the one who enters here. Anyway, Carbucketty/Pouncival and Misto jump around a bit and the Jerrie tumbles out (maybe this should’ve been called Mungo’s entrance), followed by Cassandra. Jerrie tries to hit on Cassandra and gets rejected. This is when Bomba’s section starts up.

In Broadway-based productions, the bit where Jemima/Sillabub runs by (literally named Girls) is cut and replaced with Alonzo. Mistoffelees gets the ballet solo, crosses the stage towards Alonzo, and they seem to dance the idea of making polite conversation. Pouncival runs out for the Mungo Entrance and the Boys Jump features three cats, instead of two. Tumblebrutus tumbles out and we have a bit that I’ve dubbed the Antagonistic Waggle, where Tumble gets in a bit of a fit with the other boys. The fight breaks up when Cassandra comes out and then Bomba starts up her section.

If you took a Carbucketty, cast them as Pouncival and gave them the Broadway choreography, it’d be easy. They don’t get their ballet solo, but once they get onstage for the Boys Jump, it’d all be pretty familiar. However, London Alonzo isn’t in this section at all, so this would be new stuff to learn. The 1998 version added a moment where Alonzo hits on Bomba and gets rejected, possibly to match the Jerrie/Cassandra bit that would have in London, and when Cassandra comes out, Alonzo is far more successful with her than Jerrie is, because Casslonzo is basically canon in London-based productions.

So, there was a lot of rearranging to mix some Broadway into the 1998 film, even though the Broadway cast members were outnumbered. 

This is all interesting, but I sometimes wonder why they made this decision. I’m not at all complaining, because it turned out great, but it wasn’t the most convenient decision. Since the filming was based out of London, you’d think they would’ve just gathered the London cast, reworked some of the choreography for film, and left it at that. Most filmed recordings of plays don’t mix and match their casts. I think they wanted the show they filmed to sort of represent all shows up to that point. But how did they pick which characters to use the current London cast for vs. the ones to get someone else for? And why cast several roles with actors who’d never played them before?

I honestly don’t know, but I have a few observations.

So, if they went to represent all of Cats, getting someone from the original London cast was vital. Since Grizabella is the character with the iconic song, the song that made the show a hit outside of theatre circles, casting the first person to sing that song in an official production makes perfect sense. Thus, Elaine Paige as Grizabella. Also, Grizabella is an older character, so casting someone in 1997 who first played the role in 1981 would mean casting an older actress. That works perfectly here.

In fact, most of the older characters were cast with older actors. Ken Page first played Old D in 1982. For Gus, instead of a casting an actor who’d played him before, they actually cast an old actor, someone who could represent a human version of Gus. This completely changed the tone of the number, but in a way that people liked. When watching bootlegs, I tend to skip over Gus, but it’s one of my favorite numbers in 1998.

The other characters on the older side of the cast are Bustopher, Asparagus, Skimble, Jellylorum, and Jennyanydots. James Barron (Bustopher) and Susie McKenna (Jenny) were playing the roles in London at the time. Tony Timberlake (Asparagus), played the Gustopher (Gus/Asparagus/Bustopher) role in London directly before Barron did. Geoffrey Garratt (Skimble) first played his role in the 1989 UK tour. Susan Jane Tanner (Jelly) was from the original London cast. So, there’s a mix of old and new.

I don’t actually know the ages of most of these actors, so I can’t give exact numbers of how old they were when they first played their roles vs. when recording for the VHS. Also, Garratt is not the only actor who came from the 1989 tour. Rosemarie Ford (Bombalurina) spent most of her Cats career playing Grizabella, but she began as Bomba in 1989. Aeva May (Demeter) started even earlier, being cast as Demeter in London in 1986. Both played adult, but younger adult characters for the VHS at 35. 1989 was still less than a decade before the VHS and 1986 only slightly before.

So, Grizabella, Old Deuteronomy, and Jellylorum were the three older characters cast with actors who’d played their roles a long time before the VHS, meaning that their actors were a bit closer to the age of their characters. I’m not sure why Jellylorum in particular got this emphasis, other than that it just works. It just does. But, this does cause this weird effect with my brain when actors played Jelly too young. I also get annoyed when Jenny’s played too young because she’s the OLD Gumbie Cat. It’s the title of the song. How could you miss that? But, neither Skimble nor Jelly have their ages made nearly as clear, so it should be understandable when 30 year-old actors don’t know how old they’re supposed to be and just play them at 30. This is easy to accept with Skimble, but not with Jelly, entirely because I can recognize from 1998 that she both aligns herself with older characters and is played by an older actress. She doesn’t look 30. If a 30 year-old is cast as Jelly, and has seen the 1998 version, they should probably know that. If Jellylorum was meant to be younger, they wouldn’t have cast the role the way they did.

Now, back to Misto. I called this “rambling” for a reason. I’m writing off the top of my head here.

Mistoffelees is a really weird case. They cast the Broadway actor, but still brought in the London actor to play a different character, one he’d never played before. Fergus Logan wasn’t the only actor playing a role he hadn’t played before. Rebecca Parker (Cassandra) began as a swing and then played Bomba. Frank Thompson (George) started off as Admetus/Macavity and then became a swing. As swings, they could’ve played their filmed roles before, but I have no proof of that. (As a side note, I wonder if Thompson being an Admetus has something to do with his George being credited as Admetus).

But, Parker and Thompson seemed pretty comfortable as Cassandra and George, while Logan struggled a bit with Tumblebrutus. I think this is because, half the time, 1998 Tumblebrutus isn’t even Tumblebrutus. He’s a stand-in for London Mistoffelees. Having to be a stand-in, and having more experience in his stand-in role, I don’t think Logan was given a whole lot of room to develop his Tumblebrutus, so the role felt reduced and inconsistent. Parker just had to play Cassandra, so she developed her Cassandra. Thompson just had to play George, so he developed his George. 1998 basically tried to have a Broadway and a London Misto at the same time and sort of lost Tumblebrutus as a character along the way.

Tumblebrutus isn’t a major character, especially in London-based productions, so this isn’t a major problem. Some tours and smaller productions actually cut Tumblebrutus in favor of Electra. Pouncival is never cut. He seems to be the preferred tom kitten in general. But, the reduced role of Tumblebrutus is the result of casting a Broadway Mistoffelees when it seems like they wanted a London one. But, they cast a Broadway Munkustrap and had him play a London Munkustrap with no one cast as a stand-in, while they made changes to Misto’s role to match the Broadway version. They wanted both versions so badly that they basically refused to choose just one.

With the casting of Michael Gruber, from what I can tell, Gillian Lynne just really liked him in the role.

(Interview tidbit is from Michael Gruber’s page on the Cats Wiki)

This might’ve been the case with Jacob Brent as Mistoffelees as well, but I think there was more to it than that. Technically, Brent and Logan were both great in the role. Seeing Misto and Tumble in the Boys Ballet, which Brent said Logan had the timing for better than he did, Logan might’ve actually been better at dancing the role. 

But, I think what decided Brent’s casting was his acting of the role.

The role of Mistoffelees evolved a lot over time and London and Broadway evolved in different directions. By the time Brent was cast, Broadway Mistoffelees was a mix of the very dramatic, theatrical character Broadway started with and the younger, more awkward version that Lindsay Chambers brought to Broadway from Zurich. Brent was Chambers’ understudy and their versions of the character are similar. There are no full recordings of Chambers as Misto on Broadway, but there is a bootleg from Zurich, so the two portrayals can be compared.

Zurich was Vienna-based. The 1983 Vienna production was mostly based off of Broadway, but with a few changes. One of these changes is that Mistoffelees, who had a large singing role on Broadway, became completely mute. Mute Misto soon spread to Amsterdam and Paris. In Paris, the character was aged down and given more of a character arc where magically recovering Old Deuteronomy becomes a coming-of-age moment. Zurich took this characterization and ran with it. Both Paris and Zurich opened with Tibor Kovats as Misto, but the bootleg was filmed after Lindsay Chambers took over. The younger, coming-of-age aspects of the character were doubled down on. On top of that, Chambers’ Misto is an outcast, often scolded by the older cats in the tribe for what appear to be misunderstandings. Munkustrap is particularly harsh with him, and after he brings Old D back, Munkustrap dances with him and leads him to the tire for Tugger’s “ladies and gentlemen” finale. Munkustrap took the lead in honoring Misto at the end. Gaining Munk’s respect in particular is Zurich Misto’s arc.

Jacob Brent also plays Misto as younger and prone to awkward mistakes, but the tone is different. His Misto is more Broadway theatrical, with a small singing role. This makes him seem a bit more confident, and he at times appears to have a bit of an ego. Most of the older cats seem to like him. Munkustrap, the complete opposite to his Zurich counterpart, is very patient with Misto and seems to understand him a bit better than some of the other cats. Instead, Misto doesn’t really seem to fit in with cats closer to his own age and it’s the entire tribe he has to impress, without focus on a specific character.

All in all, the storyline with Zurich Misto is a bit more obvious. But, Brent’s Misto is more energetic, more dynamic. He makes facial expressions that make for great close ups. The combination of the clear story arc, which can be made even clearer on film, and that energy and expressiveness, make for a character that works really well on film. He’s the ideal Misto for a recorded production.

So, it was less Jacob Brent as a dancer, and more Mistoffelees, the character as played by Jacob Brent, that they were looking for.

I’ve run out of things to ramble about for now. I’ll just add on at the end that all of these people are awesome.

[bookofmirth]

If Gwyn and Azriel do end up together how do you think their relationship will be built up? I definitely see them going from friends to lovers. In ACOSF, there here has not been any interactions between Az & Elain (that we know of) since solstice. Bryce falls into Prythian and I’m sure that took place a few months after ACOSF. In the upcoming CC book, I hope/think we get small (nothing too big since this is about Bryce) glimpses of Gwynriel, like his shadows wrapping around her wrist or trailing after her. I think Gwyn will try to help Bryce go back to her world since she works with Merrill who is researching other worlds. I’m worried/nervous how Gwynriel will play out and be built. If they do get together, I just hope Azriel sorts out his issues first. He doesn’t have to be completely healed, it’s fine, but he needs to work on his self worth issues and needs to acknowledge that he self sabotages. No one can fix that except for himself. Also, how do you think the whole situation with Elain/Azriel will be played out? I believe after CC3, we will have Az’s book and I’m thinking maybe he’ll acknowledge that it was a mistake and he only did it out of jealousy (since his brothers have mates) and not because he has genuine romantic feelings for her. I like that even though Azriel did save/rescue Gwyn, he didn’t immediately develop a possessive/romantic attachment to her. I’m sorry for the long ask! (Ps, do you think Azriel has a hero complex? That he needs to save everybody? This could stem from his childhood with his mother.)

For sure friends to lovers. They already know one another and regularly interact. In this post I mentioned how I think they will continue to work together, and I see it leading to some competitiveness and tension between them, because I think they will have the same goals (IE stop the bad guys) but the Valkyries will have newer, perhaps more progressive ways of doing so, while the Illyrians have an established way of working. I don't ship it 100% because broody sad boys are not my thing (anymore lol) but I can totally see Az and Gwyn having this teasing, challenging camaraderie with one another!

Definitely agree that I hope he gets his issues sorted first! I think talking to Mor will be a much bigger necessity than talking to Elain. Like you pointed out, he and Elain haven't interacted since Solstice (that we know of) so I honestly don't think it will be a big deal that he needs to address. But he has been holding out some sort of unrealistic hope for Mor for his whole life. So yes, I agree that he will admit with Elain he acted out of jealousy (for mating bonds, for what Rhys and Cassian have, not because he wants her in particular), but that will be it. With Mor, it's a much longer, more important conversation.

And yeah, I do think he needs to save women, because of his mom! I know I've talked about it before but I can't be bothered to search for it, so-

Examples are in acofas where he gets upset at dinner and Rhys explains to Feyre that it's because of the way that his mother was treated, the fact that he holds onto this anger about what happened to Mor, he has rescued Feyre, Gwyn, Elain, Briar... Who knows how many other women. I think that's partly why he rushes into danger, but I think it's combined with the fact that he feels deeply insecure about his place in the IC - he was tortured by his brothers, in what world is it okay or sane for him to torture other people as part of his job??? That's where his insecurity comes in, IMO. He does that because he feels like he doesn't have anything else to give, and he needs to earn his place. That's how I interpret it, at least. I mean, there really isn't any other reason for him to put that burden on himself, unless he feels like he deserves it. People have pointed out that Rhys could easily break into people's minds for information, so Az torturing people doesn't make sense.

This is also why I think he gets so angry at being told he can't/shouldn't do things that he thinks will be helpful to the IC (e.g. when Rhys and Feyre tell him he can't spy on Briallyn, when Nesta tells him he'll die if he tries to get Elain back from Hybern). If he doesn't have these things - the rescuing and the torturing for the greater good - then how else is he proving that he belongs?