#elriel positivity

[violetasteracademic]

I am going to say something for my Elriels that I hope can be absorbed with grace and compassion. I realize not everyone may agree, and I do not speak for all survivors. But I am speaking from the perspective of someone who has received over 19 years of intensive therapy (yes, I started at 14. Feel free to calculate my age) as well as EMDR to treat complex PTSD. I hope you can hear this and take it to heart, and understand that *both sides* are contributing to some of us considering whether or not we should permanently leave this fandom to protect ourselves. If your interest is protecting survivors, I hope you will hear this with nothing but love and care in my heart and wanting this to be a better place for everyone and feel open to what I would like to say.

If you are taking this opportunity to re-blog and make a public spectacle of how badly the other side is behaving- you are not protecting survivors. Limiting exposure is a critical tool for those with PTSD. Stepping away from areas where we cannot prevent exposure to traumatic or triggering environments does not make us weak. It makes us strong. It makes us capable of making hard decisions and reflecting inward, and walking away from things that cause harm even when our inner child wants to feel drawn towards it and resolve it. These are not easy decisions. Right now, I want to stay away because of how everyone is acting, not just those on certain sides. The exposure to triggers is frankly beyond anything I could have ever imagined happening joining this fandom.

The spectacle is harmful for those that you are trying to protect. I beg you to consider this in the coming days as you decide what type of contributions you want to make to the Elriel community. At this point, I have so many people blocked, but it doesn't matter. I am still being exposed to how traumatizing this fandom is because the Elriel community will not stop. I promise you, starving harassers of the attention they so desperately want is the only thing that will have any meaningful impact to improve the environment. You are never going to understand each other or see things the same way. Please consider if re-blogging harmful takes just to prove a point is an act of protection, or an act of judgement and escalation.

If you are taking this opportunity to engage in a war of morality, and decide that the *other side* has behaved badly enough that they finally *deserve* to be harassed or insulted, you are not protecting survivors. I know it sucks. I know it's unfair. I know the high road is comprised of more steps. But the reality is, there are people with completely different moral codes opposing each other here. You will never be able to show another person why their deeply held beliefs are wrong. Some felt that protecting DV victims was a violation of their personal rights. We all understand how wrong that is. But instead of trying to turn this into a battle of whose behavior is worse, and who deserves what treatment, the best way to protect survivors is to say: I'm so sorry this is happening. I know how triggering this must be. Let me focus on making this a safe space for you. Invoking verbal abuse or escalating an aggressive conflict in our name does not help us. It only makes this space more unsafe. The simple act of, "I said this to you and I treated you badly because you acted badly first" is in of itself triggering behavior. If you look for reasons to treat someone you don't like or respect poorly, you will surely find them.

Please know that my only goal here is safety for all. It can be difficult to make everyone feel comfortable. I have long since realized that fandom life may not be for me, and have repeatedly left group chats, tiktok, and Instagram because I personally hate watching women rip each other to shreds every day when these books were a place of respite for me. So maybe I'm in the wrong. Maybe I don't *get* fandom culture, and if that's the case, I can gracefully step away or set new boundaries with myself about what I contribute and how involved I am regularly. No one is required to change their behavior because of me, or because of anyone. We are only in charge of ourselves. But this felt worth saying.

I truly hope that the goal of fostering a community that feels good to be a part of, even if it comes at the sacrifice of "fighting back," because no one is actually winning at anything here, is something that feels worthy of acknowledgment. I hope everyone can consider before typing, re-blogging, screenshotting, fighting, ect., pausing, reflecting and asking- does my behavior hurt or harm survivors? Am I making this space safer or more harmful for them? Is this a space I'd want to look at and make art for every day if I was trying to avoid landmines of watching how people treat each other? *If* protecting survivors and making things safer is your goal of course. That will not be the priority for everyone. But then please be honest with yourself about what you are trying to accomplish.

I always considered the Elriel space safe and joyful and a place largely not centered around bashing and negativity (though of course there are always exceptions, and I think venting is perfectly natural so long as it's not done with malicious intent to hurt others) but this situation made me realize that both sides are standing with loaded guns, just waiting for the opportunity for the other side to do something bad enough to trigger a war.

We are the collateral damage.

I hope that maybe this can move the Elriel community back in the direction of focusing on kindness, positivity, and excitement. If that is not the case, I hear you. Perhaps I'm the one that doesn't fit, and that's okay. But it felt worth trying.

[shadowsatdawnx]

one positive about this hellscape that we’ve found ourselves in is that it makes elain’s right to choose for herself in the next book that much more impactful and profound 🫶

[elrielffs]

You know what…I’m looking forward to the Elriel smut. Antis can try to make that a bad thing all they want but I hope Elriel is nastier than Nessian.

And that’s okay.

Maybe it’s cause a lot people on tumblr are young/virgins but sex is great and shouldn’t be villianized! and Elriel fucking will be great! They deserve it!

Let 👏 them 👏 fuck! 👏 Sick 👏 nasty 👏

(and they’ll be hopeless in love while they do it)

[offtorivendell]

Some Friendly Teasing...

🌸 Elain Archeron Week 2023, Day 2 - Sister and Friend 

This headcanon/theory is based on a few things:

This brilliant crack theory by @wingedblooms, and the subsequent thoughts reblogged by @ladynightcourt3, which posit that Elain may have shifting powers, and have taken the form of Balthazar in ACOSF's Blood Rite (the OP), as well as the priestess Ananke during Valkyrie training (the reblogs).

This corresponding crack theory by @psychologynerd, which hypothesises that Nuala and Cerridwen may be Roslin and Dierdre, two of the other training priestesses who are frequently seen with Ananke.

I highly recommend reading both theories by these supremely lovely and talented people, they make a lot of sense! But let's go...

Azriel’s presence helped. He now trained the newest recruits, quiet and gentle yet unfaltering, and if she didn’t know better, she’d swear at least two of the priestesses—Roslin and Ilana—sighed every time he walked past. - ACOSF, chapter 40

I can't think of anything more appropriate for a trio of besties than for two of them to tease the third - lightheartedly, of course - when they discover a crush. Now I know the names Roslin and Ilana don't match up exactly with Roslin and Dierdre, but this could be explained by one of a few things:

The wraiths don't always wear the same bodies, and at this point they were Roslin and Ilana.

Only one of the twins, as Roslin, was teasing Elain at this time, and Ilana just has good taste.

Ilana, which means "torch, beautiful, light, bright, shining," is Elain (or she was on this day, instead of Ananke).

In the beginning, Elain thinks she's slick, asking for information about Azriel, like his favourite foods, or whether he has any aversions. Nuala and Cerridwen see through her falsely casual interrogation in an instant. But hey, we all have to start somewhere.

I can just imagine the glee lighting up Nuala and Cerridwen's eyes when they realised for whom Elain was developing feelings. Their boss, of all people! Who they probably know well and have a fairly good relationship with after a few centuries of being his personally trained spies, so I anticipate Azriel will cop his fair share from them in an Elriel book, too.

Nuala may have suggested that Elain train as a way to improve her balance for stealthy walking (if she is Ananke then she was as bad as Nesta initially) and self defence, but she conveniently forgot to warn her that Azriel would be taking the other priestesses through their exercises, not Cassian.

Cue the silent snickers and not-so-subtle looks when his back is turned, and Elain's ever blushing face.

That's something she'll obviously have to work on, pipes in Cerridwen.

Elain doing her best to balance, planting her feet in the dirt, yet still toppling over, only for Cerridwen to accuse her of doing it intentionally when Az is looking the other way, saying that she just wanted Azriel's undivided attention.

And when Elain does finally begin to improve, Nuala will give her a teeny, tiny nudge, just to see if they can get her to falter.

And maybe blush some more. For spy training.

At which point Cerridwen will say, deadpan, that Elain may be great at keeping others' secrets, but she sure as shit wears her own on her face.

I am really and truly hopeful that we'll finally get to see the two spies who masquerade as Rhys' own handmaidens at home and abroad for who they really are, through the eyes of their good friend, Elain, rather than someone who doesn't know them well. I think they'll have a lot of fun together, and we'll also see them all open up about their pasts, and their hopes and dreams for the future.

@elainarcheronweek

[athena-85]

❤️👀Me when I open up Tumblr and see an update to a Fanfic I am reading🥹❤️

When I finally get a minute to read it .

See ya’ll later ….

Thank you! 🥰😊🙏

I hope you all know how much joy you bring to peoples lives by sharing your art.

@ultadverb

@nikethestatue

@fawnandshadows

@casuallivi

@danydragons21

@rowanaelinn

@dottielovegood

@snelbz

@tswaney17 @tswaney17fics

@theladyofdeath

@thefangirlofhp

@rhysanoodle

@slytherhys

I know I missed some wonderful writers so please share and tag anyone you think deserve a shoutout

[rosenecklaces]

Also the ones that hate azriel have the stupidest cofcofRacistcof of reasons like where the hell had azriel acted like a barbarian creepy possesive excuse of a man... they need to be fucking humbled and remember WHICH MAN was the one siding with the contineous abuse of women since book one

Elucien want us to believe they care about elain but in every elriel/elucien post some “elucien” is always writing coments like "poor lulu he has suffered enough “ “lucien deserve happiness “ .elain is just a character they want to make lucien happy they don’t care that SHE DOES NOT want him. I have never seen an elriel saying “i just want azriel to be happy “ we care for both elain and az because they actually want eachother. I know they are some eluciens who don’t like azriel and that’s what the ship lucien with elain but that’s only like 5% of them the grand majority only talks about lucien. In other words the only ship that couple for only one character and they care 0 when in comes to elain just go to a elucien post and you will see thousands of comments like that. So I don’t understand when they get mad when we are like you are ignoring Elain’s feelings when they themselves said they don’t care about elain they just want lucien to be happy. Honestly I don’t hate fox boy but some of his stans are pretty gross.

[elainsgirl]

I would not want to be in the antis shoes right now. Like at this point, its becoming clear elriel is being soft launched in preparation for the announcement coming.

TIME, Spotify, audible, and now E! News? Despite gwynriel/eluciens being extremely popular & loud within the fandom -> these news outlets and companies are only mentioning elriel. It doesn’t confirm elriel but to have these big companies talk about them, is definitely a positive and good thing.

[jasmineandcedar]

An out-of-body experience | Pathetically obsessed 2

An Elriel one shot (Azriel’s POV)

Because I think we all need some fun in times like these, and because Elain has both me and Azriel wrapped around her finger.

Here’s a slightly obsessed Azriel who finds himself with Elain straddling him when she decides to take matters into her own hands.

Warning: sexual content (not explicit)

I was thinking about how everyone is so preoccupied with the Cauldron and the mating bond and its implications. But then there’s Elain, who just doesn’t seem all that bothered with the mating bond at all, and whatever expectations it comes with. Not even indulging in the idea. She just wants who she wants. That’s where this idea started. And then it spiralled.

------

Azriel had never been one to giggle. Yet here he was, stumbling backwards into one of the empty rooms at the House of Wind, tangled up in Elain Archeron, with her nimble hands all over him—and he was giggling. Normally, he was all shadows, brooding frowns, and icy composure. Right now? Azriel was all giggles, smiles, and hands on soft skin.

Elain shoved him onto a sofa and straddled him. Azriel barely had time to adjust his wings before he was pushed against the back of the sofa and Elain’s hands were all over him again. Her soft laughter bubbled up in small bursts that filled his ears. Then her lips were on his neck and—Cauldron boil him alive—was that her tongue gliding up his throat? Azriel’s head fell back on the plush backrest, his breathing ragged.

As he lay there staring up at the ceiling, mind foggy, feeling Elain’s hands roaming all over him and her tongue on his neck, he couldn’t help but wonder if this was one of those out-of-body experiences people had when they were on the brink of death.

Because—Mother save him—Elain Archeron was straddling him.

That thought alone ripped him back to reality and his head jolted upright. Not even five hundred years of self-loathing could stop his hands from exploring every curve of Elain’s body in return, not with how she was straddling him with such eagerness. The problem was that there was simply too much fabric in between them

“Easy there, Spymaster,” Elain’s bright voice chirped. Her brown eyes glittered with excitement, her cheeks were flushed a rosy pink, and her usually impeccable golden-brown hair was disheveled. The sweetness of it all felt like confetti bursting in Azriel’s ribcage.

"Don’t get too carried away,” she murmured against his neck, sending a shiver down his spine.

Those nimble fingers of Elain’s were definitely getting carried away all over Azriel’s fully clothed upper body. She positively dragged them over his fully clothed chest and rocked her hips against his fully clothed lap. Azriel had never felt so betrayed by his own wardrobe. From the deepest abyss of his melting heart, Azriel thoroughly regretted getting dressed in the morning.

“We’re not alone in this house,” Elain whispered, her eyes wide as if confessing to misbehaving in a holy place. The thought of Elain misbehaving sent a ripple of heat through Azriel’s body, enough to make his pants feel impossibly tight.

When Elain shifted her weight back onto those suddenly all-too-tight pants of his, Azriel let out a strangled moan. She tilted her head to the side, a wicked grin playing at her lips as her gaze sinuously traced down his body in tandem with one of her index fingers. “Doesn’t mean I can’t give you some… relief,” she murmured, and the honeyed promise in her voice had Azriel’s head spinning.

Then, Elain’s eyes snapped back to his and she held his gaze with such intensity that she looked as if she were about to devour him whole.

Azriel swallowed hard.

Without a word, she took Azriel’s hands and pressed them firmly to her waist. He could do nothing but oblige when she looked at him like that.

“Hold tight,” she said, those ravenous doe-eyes dark with desire. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in close to whisper, “and don’t make a sound”.

She rolled her hips against him in one excruciatingly slow, calculated move and the friction of it all had Azriel make sounds he didn’t know he had in him. Chest heaving, his head once again fell back against the backrest in surrender. It was simply an impossible feat to not make a sound under such precarious predicaments as these. Elain seemed to have him beat for torturing.

This was definitely one of those out-of-body experiences people had on the brink of death.

Because—Mother put him on life support—Elain Archeron was straddling him and promising him relief.

Then the scent of their combined arousal hit him, and it was about as subtle as a brick to the face.

“What if we get caught?” Azriel mumbled, his voice strained, tilting his delirious head back up as if this might really be his dying breath. Would these be the last words of the fearsome Spymaster of the Night Court? What if we get caught? He would go down in history as the most pathetic spymaster in Prythian, with such a lamentable parting line.

But the Spymaster of the Night Court didn’t give a damn—because Elain Archeron was straddling him.

Was he losing consciousness? Or did all that precious oxygen simply go straight to that now-painful bulge in his traitorous pants? Truth be told, that wingspan really wasn’t all it was cracked up to be in trying times like these—not when Elain Archeron had him on the brink of death by straddling.

Azriel tried to remember how to breathe. He really should have paid more attention when Nesta tried to teach him those Valkyrie breathing techniques. What was it again? I am the surf against which the rock crashes. No, no… I am the crash against which the rock surfs.

That definitely wasn’t it.

I am rock-hard, and I am about to crash, he thought as his breath caught in his chest with another roll of Elain’s hips.

Then, Elain seemed to be pondering Azriel’s lamentable last words for a moment, her brows furrowing slightly. Her index finger resumed its deliberate descent down his torso, stopping just below the waistband of his pants. As her fingers slipped beneath it, Azriel simply gave up, closing his eyes and attempting to focus on inhaling and exhaling in the right order.  

“If anyone comes in here, simply wrap your arms around me and say you were just comforting me because I saw something mildly startling, since everyone thinks I’m so fragile anyway,” she said at last.

There was nothing even remotely fragile about the way she was currently grinding against him and practically ripping at his shirt with both hands.

“It’ll just look like you’re hugging me,” she finished cheerfully, punctuating the idea with another roll of her hips, sounding thoroughly pleased with herself.

Azriel was about to be thoroughly pleased himself, too, if she kept moving her hips like that.

He came to his senses, considering Elain’s strategy. He thought to himself that there weren’t a single being in all of Prythian—alive or dead or on the brink of it—that would buy that excuse. Fae didn’t straddle fae for a little comfort. And they certainly didn’t straddle fearsome spymasters for comfort. But she looked so adorable as she plotted, and so determined to get that shirt off of him, that he simply couldn’t bring himself to stop her.

“Now relax and let me make you feel good,” Elain purred, her voice so downright sultry that Azriel’s eyes nearly rolled back in his head. “No one will find us.”

Azriel was absolutely out of his body at this point.

Because—Mother above, he was six feet under—Elain Archeron was straddling him, whispering sultry promises in his ears and trying to rip his shirt off.

Azriel shook his head hastily, trying to pull himself back to reality. He was a warrior. He might also be rock-hard and about to crash, but he was a warrior. He had nearly died countless times, and he would be damned if this was the moment he bit the dust.

So, with a smirk, he pulled himself together, flexing his hips to meet the roll of hers. He brushed his lips along Elain’s jawline, drawing a shiver out of her.

“Is that so, love?” he murmured, his voice sinfully low. His hands skimmed up her curves, thumbs grazing the rosy fabric of her dress just below her breasts.

“I promise,” she pleaded, slipping her fingers under his shirt and tracing the ridges of his abdomen, which he rewarded with a husky moan in her ear.

“And what if I want to get caught?” He nipped at her earlobe. Her soft gasp sent a jolt straight to his core, as if there were some direct line of communication between his cock and all those small sounds that he drew out of her.

“What if I want everyone to know I’m yours?” he rasped darkly against her neck as he cupped her ass and pulled her flush against him, earning him a delectable giggle in response. The exquisite press of her body against his had a low groan slipping from him, not entirely intentionally.

“And what if I want everyone to know you’re mine?” Elain crooned in that sultry voice that was surely about to send him to the afterlife.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Elain,” Azriel murmured, voice dark with intent. He thrust his hips up, locking his gaze with hers.

 “You mean this?” She slid her hands over his shoulders and met his thrust with an equally determined roll of her hips. Their eyes met—ravenous hazel to ravenous brown—and a wicked grin spread across Azriel’s face.

“Keep pushing me and I might bend you over right here,” he warned hoarsely. He slid his hands under her dress to grip her bare thighs, his voice dropping to a sinister murmur, “and fuck you until you scream my name for the whole court to hear.”

Elain stilled.

So did Azriel.

Azriel knew there was mischief in his voice, but he also knew he couldn’t hide the glint of pain in his eyes. He spoke of games, but his words held no deceit. They were simply the naked truth dressed as heated words uttered in aroused delirium.

What if I want everyone to know I’m yours?

“What if you did … do those things,” Elain said after a long pause.

Bend her over?

Azriel blinked, raising his eyebrows. Normally, he had no problem reading Elain, but this was not at all what he had expected her to say. His mind had wandered into all the ethical and existential dilemmas of him not actually being hers and her not actually being his, and the particularities of who would possibly be fighting whom in a Blood Duel and how to avoid starting another war. Then there were the intricacies of whether the Cauldron had actually been wrong, and the delicate problem of how Azriel was going to deal with Rhys.

And meanwhile, Elain’s mind had wandered to… Azriel bending her over?

There was no pain in Elain’s eyes. Just pure, fierce desire. She still had that ravenous look in her eyes, that Azriel thought should have come with a warning label.

In that moment, Azriel realized that maybe, just maybe, none of the rest of it mattered. Fuck the damned Cauldron. He snorted internally at it. Twice, for good measure. What did a bloody kitchen utensil have to do with anything when there was beautiful, ravenous desire in Elain Archeron’s eyes—and they were looking at him?

She peered up at him through her lashes.

“What if I want you to bend me over right here and fuck me until I scream your name for the whole court to hear,” she whispered, so softly it was barely audible, her nimble fingers still clutching his shirt, her gaze dropping shyly to his chest.

Was she… pouting?

Azriel swallowed hard again.

She glanced up at him once more, doe-eyes somehow even bigger than before.

Yes—she was pouting.

“Then I would bend you over right here and fuck you until you scream my name for the whole court to hear,” Azriel heard himself say as if possessed, the words tumbling out of him in one breath.

Elain’s expression softened and she cupped his cheek with a gentle hand.

“I know you would, sweetheart.”

Bless the Mother for she had resurrected him.

------

This is part two of Pathetically obsessed.

Part 1: He had seen the light

Part 2: An out-of-body experience

There’s no chronological order to them, and they are standalone (one shots), but they are written in the same style and on the same theme.

[pastelpinkkadan]

My most blunt, controversial ACOTAR opinions. Nothing is safe, nothing is sacred. Mind the tags for your own peace of mind please.

P.S.: Absolutely not directed at any other blog/person specifically. Just general fandom/shippers.

Elriel/Gw*nriel:

Gwyn is not that important of a character. She is a secondary character whose main purpose in the story was to be Nesta’s friend. She has no connection to any overarching plot. She could literally never be seen again in the books and all the main plot points would still work.

People have inflated Gwyn’s character and importance solely because they ship her with Azriel. And they ship her with Azriel because 1. She is the only other single female character (besides Elain) that he has interacted with. 2. Gwyn is enough of a blank slate for people to project/self insert themselves into and thereby romance themselves with Azriel 3. Gwyn has only been shown in a positive light, with only positive personality traits (good friend and can wield a sword) so there’s no REAL controversy on her character/personality. Because there’s not enough to actually have any controversy.

If Gwyn was actually that important, Emerie would also be as important, if not more so. But 90% of time Emerie is forgotten by the fandom. Even to the point that the theory of an Illyrian plot is somehow given to Az and Gwyn, rather than Emerie. The two people that, arguably, have the least skin in the game concerning that theory. And the reason Emerie is this pushed out of her own potential story line is because she isn’t shipped with Azriel or another Fae male.

If there was no Bonus Chapter Gw*nriel would not exist. Or at the VERY least, it would be acknowledged as the crackship that it is. Because outside of the BC, there is nothing in the main ACOSF to accurately ship them to the degree that the fandom does. Elriel, however, still has several books where canon scenes have taken place. The BC is absolutely not needed to show that Elriel have feelings for each other, we already knew.

“Well Elain gave by TruthTeller, so Elriel isn’t end game!” Is one of the stupidest reaches I’ve seen. TruthTeller was always, OBVIOUSLY, meant to be something lent to Elain for the war. It wasn’t a permanent gift, and Az didn’t say it was. He said he wouldn’t use it TODAY, implying he would expect to use it again in the future. Imagine -

“Well Gwyn gave back the books Nesta recommended to her, so they obviously aren’t friends.”

Thats what y’all sound like. It’s just purposely misinterpreting things in a scene that obviously aren’t there for the sake of your ship. It’s disingenuous and not at all the win you think it is.

You cannot call Azriel an incel/fuck boy for Elain and then ship him with Gwyn in the same breath. If he’s all those things with Elain, he’ll be the same for Gwyn. She is not magically going to make him “better” or a gentleman. Actually, he’s already a gentleman. He just didn’t have sexual thoughts about Gwyn and y’all can’t stand it.

Same vein, but if Azriel had had those sexual thoughts in the BC about anyone else besides Elain there would have been no issue/debate.

If a Gw*nriel book did somehow happen, it would 1000% be for fan service/peer pressure. No previous books have set it up, even the main story in ACOSF. Elriel has been setting up since book 2. It makes sense. Anyone who says it doesn’t just doesn’t want it to happen, mostly because they don’t like Elain. And that’s also mostly because they can’t see themselves in Elain, so they lash out.

Saying Elriels are delusional is the wildest thing, because Elriels have the most canon scenes spread throughout the books, Elain and Azriel have interacted with each other positively the most and the longest, and they are the only potential couple that actually bluntly like each other. They exist outside of misinterpreted bonus chapters and “what if” theories with no real backing.

Elain:

Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, part of the Elain hate IS misogyny. The amount of hate this character receives, compared to what she has actually done in the series, is entirely undeserving. She has received the same level of hate, if not more, than Tamlin, any of the ACOTAR villains, and Nesta, who is still a very controversial character. And for what? Liking Azriel, and not wielding a sword while doing it, apparently.

Elain liking flowers does not determine who she’ll end up with. For fucks sake we didn’t know Nesta liked to read smut or was great dancer until her book. And neither of those things determined her partner. It’s just what she likes. Same with Elain.

Nessian/ACOSF

The idea that Nesta will leave Cassian and make her own court is stupid.

Being anti-ACOSF but Pro-Nesta is a streeeeeetch, because all of Nesta’s actual good character development came from ACOSF. Like, did you like that she was angry and unhealed before? Because that’s where she would still be without all that happened in ACOSF.

People don’t understand the intervention that HAD to happen with Nesta in ACOSF. And I would even venture to say that most people against it have never HAD to have a real intervention with someone to that level. The level of, go to rehab/therapy or you are not allowed to be in my house/take up my resources. Because you will not get better on your own, you will only hurt yourself or others and I won’t enable you anymore. It’s a difficult decision that but often it is NECESSARY. Speaking as someone with several addict family members.

El*cien/Lucien:

All the theories about an El*cien plot line are completely focused on Lucien, and ignore everything built up with Elain. It’s always about Lucien figuring out his heritage, becoming some High Lord of one of the courts, or something with the Band of Exiles. Elain doesn’t have to be involved for any of that to happen. She’s pushed to the side in her own romantic story line. Nothing about her Seer powers, or the fact that she’s apparently been gaining spy abilities, or her place at the Night Court.

Lucien fans make me hate Lucien more than Lucien ever could.

The poor Lulu mindset can die.

While we’re at it, the theory that Elain likes Lucien so much that she avoids him is also stupid. That makes no sense. She loses her boldness around. She got better WHEN HE LEFT. All of Elain’s most powerful moments are when Lucien isn’t around. And that says something.

People cling to 1st book Lucien so much, but he has not been that way SINCE book 1.

Tamlin:

Tamlin already got a redemption arc when he brought Rhys back to life. He doesn’t need another one, and he certainly doesn’t need a full book.

The Tamlin/Elain ship is stupid and only benefits Tamlin, not Elain. Once again placing Elain to the side of her own romance, much like El*cien.

ACOTAR:

If you hate everyone in the IC, you don’t actually like ACOTAR. They’re the majority of the books, including half of ACOSF. And it’s actually really stupid to hate the IC and still pretend you’re an ACOTAR fan. Because, again, the IC is the MAJORITY of ACOTAR. Please read something you actually like.

If you hate the entire main story and main characters of ACOTAR, but like one or two characters, you don’t like ACOTAR. You see yourself in a character, and want the story to reflect what YOU want to happen to that character (ie, yourself), and can’t handle that it didn’t. You don’t actually like the ACOTAR series. Again, maybe it’s time to read something else.

3 Acherons x 3 Bat Boys isn’t cliche. It’s a pattern. It’s a literary motif. It’s a theme. It is a pattern that SJM has naturally set up, the fact that you can see and assume that Elriel would be apart of that just means you can recognize basic literary devices in a fantasy novel. Which is the POINT.

I have no intention of debating anything. I’m just stating my opinions on my blog, like everyone else gets to do. So take that as you will.

Anyways, thanks for coming to my TedTalk.

[gracieart]

Let me be your wings

Let me be your only love

Let me take you far beyond the stars ✨

The idea of Elain and Azriel flying together has taken up so much space in my brain. I knew I had to draw them in such a way!

@santkazoya was the lovely human that brought up the Thumbelina reference for this piece, I lay no claim on what her beautiful brain comes up with. This song fits them so perfectly! I added a couple nods to the song in this piece that you’ll see here.

For “let me take you far beyond the stars,” you can see stars sparkling in the distance, just starting to show as the sun sets.

“Everyday I’ll take you higher and never let you fall.” This line from the song is shown through their position here. Azriel is below Elain, always there to catch her. 🦇💗

@elriel-month

No repost without permission, ty <3

[violetasteracademic]

hi! this isn’t a question, but i wanted to say this somewhere else than a comment. 🥰

i just read your most recent (i think) post, and i want to say it’s *really* well written. i’ve seen this same thing within the fandom—and at some point i can blame it on how large the fandom is, which allows people to fee so free in spewing really harmful sentiments. for me, i’m watching people be hurt, not particularly being hurt myself, but that doesn’t make it less impactful.

i’ve always tried to not only focus on the beauty of Elriel but also make sure to only post the positive as well. and honestly, that’s the content i want to see! yes, i’ll discuss why another ship really isn’t canon, but i read for fun—i’m not about to make my love of a series lose that fun.

anyways, long story short, i’m with you on your post, and thank you for (a) posting it and (b) being someone who really just wants to love Elriel in peace. 💗🫶

-isobel (@bookish.biologist on insta)

Thank you my lovely!! This was so kind of you to send. I think I'm seeing the sentiment grow that many Elriel's are ready to start focusing back on our flower girl and our fave bat boy, and of course we all make theory posts share our thoughts and ideas! That often includes discrediting or addressing "anti takes" if you will, but usually doesn't involve escalation to such heights in direct conflict with other people in the internet that will literally never, under any circumstances, agree with you.

I think many people are tired and hurting and disenfranchised, and while I'm still struggling with those feelings myself, I also feel hopeful that with a bit of rest and recovery from this week, we all can get back to our regularly scheduled programming of absolutely obsessing over Elain 💖🌸 I'm here with you, and I'm seeing a lot of people express they too want to try to foster a safe and peaceful environment! Which is is encouraging and beautiful to see 😘 I will try to do my part if this continues to die down and get safer all around!

[kopfkino-o]

"Elain is too soft and weak to ever be a spy--"

I feel like it's very fair for me to say that when myself, and many other Elriels, say "Spy Elain" we do not mean Elain turning into 007 so she can run around Prythian in the dark like a stabby stabby girl boss

We mean spies like the women spies from WWII.

Spies like Vera Atkins, Noor Inayat Khan, and the infamous Nancy Wake who was described as "the most feminine woman I knew--until the fighting started".

Women who leaned into stereotypes of the time to position themselves close to the enemy without being detected. Women who helped the resistance by gathering intel from bars and bakeries and city squares where Axis forces were known to gather. Women who collected intel and carried messages to and from the front lines all while wearing dresses, their intel concealed in shopping baskets or on their own persons. Women who were viewed as weak or passive, women who were never believed to be a threat because of their feminity and outward appearances.

Women who were underestimated just like Elain.

[elrielffs]

I think I might need to get out of fandom and go back to enjoying the books in my bubble.

I just saw the worst take (among many I have seen) and people applauding the person and saying they wish that would happen.

People desperately want these books to be something they're not and I'll never understand it.

There's plenty of books that fit what people describe they want to happen or their crazy theories but for some reason they want it to be. this. book. series.

When that's just not the way SJM writes/plots.

Not everything has to be a GRRM level shock or "twist".

(and no, this wasn't about shipping)

[maased-out]

Hi everyone and get ready for another year of SJM fun! Below, you'll find a list of events for 2025.

NOTE: These events are meant to foster positivity within their respective fandoms. Negativity towards any specific event is not welcome.

NOTE: If you would like your event to be included on the maased-out calendar, please click here.

January:

Bat Boys Appreciation Week (January 12- January 18)

Rhysta Weekend (January 17- January 19)

February:

Jassa Week (February 2 - February 8)

SJM Romance Week (February 8 - February 14)

SJM Pride Week (February 23- March 1)

March:

Koschlain Weekend (March 07-March 09)

Elain Week (March 30- April 5)

April

Poly + Acotar Week (April 6- April 12)

Tamlin Week (April 12-April 19)

Nesta Archeron Week (April 21- April 27)

May:

Elriel Month (May 1 - May 30)

SJM x Reader Week (May 4- May 10)

June:

Azris Week (June 8- June 14)

Gwyn Week (June 15 - June 21)

July:

Inner Circle Week (July 1- July 7)

Elucien Week (July 14- July 20)

Cassian Week (July 20- July 26)

August:

Gwynriel Weeks (August 10- August 23)

Feylin Week (August 24- August 31)

September

Elain Archeron Week (September 1- September 7)

Eris Vanserra Week (September 14- September 20)

Nessian Week (September 21- September 27)

October

SJM Villain Week (October 1 - October 7)

Feysand Week (October 12- October 18)

November

Azriel Appreciation Week (November 10- November 16)

December

[athena-85]

Ok Positive post for ACOTAR

This is one of the MOST tender moments in the whole ACOTAR series

Fight me🤷‍♀️

Like even her hair is clinging to him

❤️🥰❤️

😭😭😭

[lovemyromance]

There's a reason Elriels only question Elucien's mating bond and not Feysands or Nessians.

There's a reason Feyre questions only Elain & Lucien's bond and not Nessain's (surely she suspects there WAS a bond between them).

There's a reason everyone in the IC knows how much Elain avoids Lucien and doesn't want him.

There's a reason SJM went on the today show and talked about rejected mates.

There's a reason there are no positive Elucien interactions despite being declared mates for three books now.

There's a reason Elain is sneaking around wanting to kiss Azriel instead of Lucien, her mate.

There's a reason Azriel rescued Elain from Hybern, while Lucien - her mate - was MIA.

There's a reason SJM has used nearly every opportunity to tie together Elain & Azriel - from her smile lighting up his shadows to her potato steam described like Azriel's shadows.

There's a reason SJM wrote about how sometimes there are mating bonds that don't work out - in the context of a discussion around Elain & Lucien.

There's a reason things were written this way - and that was to provide buildup for the twist that Elain is going to reject her mating bond with Lucien to be with Azriel.

If you think it's "too obvious" - good, that's your reading comprehension. Don't purposefully ignore it because you want something else to happen. SJM is predictable and in her own words - the next book IS obvious.

So all this talk about "oh why is it ONLY Elain & Luciens bond that is questioned and not the other ones?"

Um, bc only ONE of these mating bonds has buildup and evidence to show it's an ill-suited pairing. Only ONE of these bonds has been questioned by the author and the other characters. Only ONE of these bonds remains unaccepted.

Eluciens poor mating bond doesn't nullify the rest. It is aligned with exactly what Rhys said "Sometimes, yes - the bond picks poorly."