#people act like he loved alicent and aegon in those first few years

[dirtytransmasc]

Alicent being ignored as a parent during those first few years. Alicent being expected to take care of aegon, while also allowing Viserys to take him whenever he so pleased, to show off and pass around like a model toy. Alicent being denied her child whenever lords and ladies were around. Alicent only getting him back when she was at her wits end, stressed after being separated from him for so long, watching people hold him wrong, play with him wrong, touch him wrong. Alicent only getting him back when he is fussy and no longer a source of entertainment for Viserys and his guests. Alicent holding her baby close to her chest during outings or events, stiffening when people ask to see him, hesitant to release her grip on him. Alicent biting her tongue when people ask to "give her a break" when she really wants to tell them that it's her baby and she's perfectly capable. Alicent being so exhausted from guests and Aegon being so little and full of energy, and her second pregnancy, causing her to doze with Aegon in her arms, only to nearly lash out when someone tries to slip him from her arms, engulfing him in her arms as if to fend him from hungry wolves. Alicent carrying him around, even as she grows tired, her arms burning and back aching, so she knows he is safe, away from prying hands and acrid whispers, away from his father's attempts to use him for amusement purposes. Alicent feigning a smile, feigning composure and enjoyment, when really, she just wants to be home, in her chambers with her son, where no one can bother them, where they aren't props meant to smile and wave for a man who does not love them.

(inspired by this reblog of my post from earlier. cause yes, @squgs [hope you don't mind me tagging] is right, she would very much go to war for her baby)

[tessarionbestgirl]

You said once Hotd lacks heart. What you mean by that?

In Game of Thrones, the main thread, the heart of it, was the Starks relationship. You liking it or not. And that doesn't necessarily make them the main characters either. But that family love for each other is what compelled a lot of people to watch it. And was the most pure thing about the show, so you connected with it, and feel their pain. And that what brought the normies to the table.

In Hotd this is supposedly to be Alicent and Rhaenyra. They even copy the blueprint of it by establishing in episode 1 their bond and from there things go south . The thing is. This relationship is not justified enough. And what I mean by that is, when you look for what they are trying to tell with this dinamic like Sarah said in recent interview, Alicent could never forget Rhaenyra or some shit like that. Because she was her best friend in their childhood. I was thinking like, why tho? Really? I doubt 🧐

They failed in my opinion to stablish this dinamic to be this powerful thread that connects the show. They don't have a cosmic connection that would challenge the very blood connections they have and question their Ideologies.

That is what they want you to believe that this friendship of years ago was so powerful that make their hearts constantly in conflict. But nothing that was show to us on those yearly episodes make me believe was that a strong connection.

Like a silly moment of Rhaenyra tearing the book for Alicent, It was supposed to be this friendship powerful moment that years later make Rhaenyra think on the possibility of throwing her claim away? Do you know how insanely ridiculous that sounds?

Keep in constant, what this moment is supposedly to be emulating. Jon giving Arya needles. That moment was so powerful for her because, of some many aspects. But one of them is because the present is deeply connected with her wants and needs and show how much Jon knows her and loves and accept her for what she is.

"Sansa can keep her sewing needles, I've got a needle of my own."

And then of course, is given by Jon before he goes to the wall. Is farewell gift, one of the few, really happy moments she had before everyone go south. And so makes sense this very weapon becomes the manifestation of these characters she lost.

"Needle was Robb and Bran and Rickon, her mother and her father, even Sansa. Needle was Winterfell's grey walls, and the laughter of its people. Needle was the summer snows, Old Nan's stories, the heart tree with its red leaves and scary face, the warm earthy smell of the glass gardens, the sound of the north wind rattling the shutters of her room. Needle was Jon Snow's smile.”

What take a page out of a book has the same deep? What exactly represents? The freedom of acting like spoiled girls that can tear books apart and laugh about it with no consequence? Because if so, is not rooted on the relationship in it self. But freedom they had.

Every other relationship here is deeply fuck up so it can't be the heart of it. And they even take from the most pure relationship and repurposed to them to valid them. Like exemple they taking Maelor out, taking away Heleana's "Sophie's Choice" and giving to Alicent and Rhaenyra. Making Alicent ultimately choosing sacrifice her son to Rhaenyra. Something she didn't for her son when Otto himself said it was a sacrifice they need to do to save Aegon in episode 9 of the first season. And that is a wormhole of inconstancy by it self that I will not talk about here.

So that all reasons I mean by the show have no heart. Also this is enough reason to make believe the show end will suck. Because at end they will not even have that thread they stablish the show around it. So the likelihood this will fall apart at end will be big.

[allyriadayne]

yeah i'm gonna need a full breakdown of the deleted rhaenyra and jace scene

LET'S GO THEN

there are SO many things i want to say about it. it's literally been my white whale since it was announced as a cut scene. i was hopping one of the scenes op talked about with jace was that i'm sooo happy it was. my main reasons were that 1) it's a jace/rhaenyra scene and those are always juicy and 2) jacegon reasons. i'll be using text from the original post here btw.

under the cut for more jace, rhaenyra, jace AND rhaenyra and some jace and aegon <3

"Daemon fights like an unrelenting tempest with little regard for his well-being [...] Daemon hungers for war, and he'll have it one way or another"

I love that the scene begins with daemon fighting other knights and in a sort of frenzy. he's obviously expressing his grief over viserys and visenya both, and how angry he is about the situation. i think it's such a great contrast with how rhaenyra and jace are presented in comparison. jace finds rhaenyra in "deep contemplation" as she watches over daemon. it's such a great element in their dynamic because as much as rhaenyra doesn't want war, she's as angry and as grief-stricken as daemon, but cannot express herself in the same way for fear of losing her image in front of the other lords. daemon has always been her outspoken twin, he's her sword and shield and like a dragon he's expressing what she cannot. it really is so good how they represent one half of a whole. delicious.

then jace comes to her and says

"Daemon wants to fight for us."

SO interesting that earlier in the episode we have jace and daemon in explicit opposition. daemon wants to act, jace is heeding rhaenyra's orders of not doing anything except by her command. daemon obviously doesn't respect him because he's a man who respects actions and jace is still a boy without experience neither political or in a war. i'm in the camp that while jace also doesn't respect daemon nor wants or likes him as a stepfather/father figure, he accepts him as part of the family and implicitly feels safe in his presence. he is his siblings' father, the man who raised (loosely! daemon is still daemon <3) joffrey when harwin and laenor died. he's known him for six years and seen him every day.

this scene is also after daemon threatens the KG in front of jace with caraxes so i think a minimum of respect for daemon's war knowledge made jace trust the he would do anything for rhaenyra and her children. /he wants to fight for us/.

"I wonder. Will you?"

"will you?" SO delicious because while jace will heed her commands to stop daemon from plotting, he does NOT agree with her approach! very very interesting. makes sense when he says "send us" when all rhaenyra wants is to keep her children safe. obviously direct parallel to ep 2:

"I will always fight for my family... but this is not as simple as one of the other"

rhaenyra is understandably reticent to enter war full on. her first experience with it has her losing a baby. and added to this is that just /the day before/ she's spent and more or less amenable afternoon with both family. it's not easy when it's not what viserys would want and what could possibly be his last wish.

it's also about alicent of course. it's not easy to give the order to kill or imprison the woman you considered your best friend and who probably is one of the few people with whom rhaenyra had a deep relationship in her life.

"It could not be simpler. If you accept Aegon's terms, you will forfeit my life. And Luke's and Joff's."

another crash between them! as much as they are a lot alike, they butts head more often than not, esp when jace doesn't agree how rhaenyra is handling an issue like harwin's funeral and now the war. but in all this, he still supports and respects her because he very pointedly questions her in private, both in driftmark and in here. when he was younger, he could've confronted her in public out in the yard, but to me jace learned very early or assumed to himself that he could be (and is!) her mother's most steadfast ally as her heir and young prince and that meant playing the politics game, and in this case to question her in private rather than in public where he could undermine her.

it also comes from the very public humiliation the kids, and jace as the eldest and most cognizant of the situation, have faced by their peers. he knows the power of rumors and whispering, what it does first hand and would not and does not want rhaenyra to face them too, or at least not from something he could've avoided. in this scene he is acting like one of her loyal lords, advising her to take one way or the other. acting like the prince he is.

it is also very interesting that he mention's "aegon's terms" when it's very obvious the terms came from alicent, maybe he doesn't know the full extend of the conversation on the bridge. in any case, it's clear aegon's on his mind. in early 2023 all we knew of the scene was that jace said "we shouldn't trust the usurper". jace wants to know what is to be done about him because he knows how aegon is, how long aegon holds grudges and his negative attitude (indifferent more like) to renew their old bonds (ouch!). esp after last night's dinner where aegon couldn't wait to bother him and join aemond in the antagonism to jace's immense dislike.

he thinks that if aegon had the chance he would kill them because they represent a risk to him claim. i personally don't think aegon would, but it's a real risk that jace is aware and that rhaenyra doesn't seen to grasp.

"Rhaenyra looks at him quizzically." "If you do not claim the throne, we will be taken hostage, or sent to the wall, or put to the sword. I do not know which fate will await us, but I do know they will call us "bastards" first."

the first line kills me because out of context it makes rhaenyra look naive but i think it does make sense for the rhaenyra we see in the bridge. what i said earlier, she's still reeling from the alicent from the diner /the night before/. the alicent that proclaimed her a good queen and begged her to stay with her. it's difficult! but i think it shows very well how complicated her feelings are in this.

this is also the point were jace and rhaenyra start having two different conversations: rhaenyra is still absent, "deep in contemplation", while jace is pushing and pushing. he wants answers, he wants to act! he doesn't care about alicent the queen who always sneered at him and called for luke's eye, he wants to ask about the boy from his childhood (girl, the parallels) who betrayed him so many times. and he's right! i think he's trying to soften the blow, this is the second time he's said he and his velaryon brothers will forfeit their life if they lose, if rhaenyra fails to act. this talk is also driven by self preservation and it's why he's siding with daemon this time. it kills me that rhaenyra has comforted luke all ep 10 but because jace is presenting himself as an equal in this conversation, not as her son, he doesn't get any kind of comfort. he's clearly thinking of death. and he's sixteen. and his mother doesn't know how to comfort him.

in this case, it's jace wanting rhaenyra to see him beyond of what he presents. beyond the perfect prince who's pushed through earth-shattering revelations about his identity. he wants her to see him and answer for once.

"but I do know they will call us "bastards" first". this jace knows with certainty. they might kill him or they might sent him to the wall, but they will call him a bastard as they do it. this is one of jace's touchiest points and weaknesses. every time he's called that he's flipped, due to under processed anger issues (hii harwin) and the repression he's going through to Just Not Think About It. i think it took a lot from jace to say this to rhaenyra's face. the first time it's when he confronts rhaenyra after harwin leaves and you see it's something he has thought about for some time

and later when they are in driftmark where the passions are high

note that he doesn't yell the word. he whispers it to her. he knows the power of it and how angry rhaenyra would become, it's a key word there. and one here too. in the cut scene he's trying to get... let's say a rise out of rhaenyra. to make her understand what will mean for them to get captured. to me it's so visceral because i don't think jace had ever consciously said or thought himself in such after driftmark and after aegon's betrayal. and i don't think that is how he framed it for luke when he told him about their parentage either. even in the audition for child luke, jace's lines frame the issue differently: "I think he thinks we don't belong here [...] we don't look like Targaryens. You must have noticed".

"Alicent gave her word that you would be treated kindly."

they are NOT having the same conversation!

"The word of an usurper means little and less."

either aegon or alicent, jace doesn't trust their word. the king and queen are one power in paper, but i bet jace is thinking about this too

his words means little and less to jace, he who was a victim and at the same time someone who enabled most of aegon's bullying behaviors. he knows him best. but jace also knows that aegon wouldn't bother with lies either. he was trying to unite the family during dinner, but time has shown him he shouldn't have bothered to carve himself to be someone aegon liked anymore. from the same audition video jace says: "so let us be good sons and please those who love us so they may forget what we lack". aegon will never forget! and even if jace or aegon want to break from this, they must play their part because they are too far along.

"In the yard below, Daemon can be heard SHOUTING for a fallen knight to get up and to come at him again. He prowls the fighting ground like a tiger protecting his den. He calls them out, taunting them -- a cruel avenger."

once again daemon as the externalization of their anger! "like a tiger protecting his den"!

"Jace and Rhaenyra reach stalemate; the conversation ends in silence."

my favorite part! this conversation could've never reached anywhere with these too. the issue is too thorny and they are too alike to want to see the other completely. jace is too angry and rhaenyra is too detached.

all in all, i wish they had kept the scene. it furthers rhaenyra and jace's relationship and gives a little bit more of characterization to jace and his relationship with aegon. loved seeing jace oppose rhaenyra and at the same time support her and take the lead when it's needed.

thanks for asking!

gifs mine, screencaps mine. script from the link above.

[horizon-verizon]

Sara Hess and Ryan Condal can try as much as they want to make people sympathetic to TG, they can make Daemon out to be this cold, violent, aggressive man who has never really loved Rhaenyra, they can try to paint Alicent as this poor victim who only wants peace, they can try to make Aegon out to be this poor family man who loved his children, and yet nothing could ever make me like TG.

And, nothing could ever make me hate Daemon or Rhaenyra.

I actually think in this season they are trying to cram as much character development as they can that they should have already established back in season 1.

I think that they are trying to make it that Daemon truly loves Rhaenyra...but they really shot themselves in the foot by how they also make it unknown how/why Rhaenyra has had 6 or so years of living with him and showing how she actually never truly trusted him when he's actually been one of the very few she always trusted. And not just thought of as some "challenge". It felt like Sara Hess really was just writing a bit of her own views about how she'd question Daemon.

...............................................

As for Alicent seeming like a poor victim, I actually think that its the opposite that's being shown. From how she lightly protested against being a "spectacle" when Otto said the Queen and queen dowager would ride behind Jaehaerys when she was the one to encourage Aegon to listen to Otto when she finally seemed to have some influence over him; how she sleeps with Cole again despite knowing they are both at fault for Jaehaerys' death by their inattentiveness; how she puts her grieving daughter through that and doesn't advocate for her at all, instead compelling her to perform for "the throne"/Aegon/the king who barely acknowledges her even as this was one of the only times that Helaena actually had some form of a conversation with her in all the encounters we see them have together thus far, Helaena's own vulnerability Alicent isn't aware she is rejecting; how she thinks that this is the appropriate time of all time to try to address Helaena catching her w/Criston. Alicent here shows how she is really putting others.

...............................................

And bk!Aegon always, I think, loved his kids in some way as a father does his offspring...his son more for his daughter sure. It's that it's very easy for him to put himself first and forget them as Alicent does him with her/his avoidance of sincerity in favor of a performance of power and will. I think there's a lot of self loathing there that prevents him from really trying to bond with anyone and that he only allows himself to care abt those that he can claim makes him "stronger" than otherwise (his history with Otto and Alicent), and that definitely happens to be Jaehaerys/his heir rather than his daughter.

That doesn't make him a good father or even a good person, he's still a fucking rapist of many servants as well as his own wife. And he thinks Rhaenyra's murder wil finally fix all his issues, have him claim righteousness and his "birthright", still thinks Lucerys' death is no matter at all and that he didn't deserve some form of payback. that he is already just. Nor that either his mother or grandfather are suddenly exempt from blame and corruption. I still despise the greens and I don't uwu or babygirl any of them. But again he did love his kids...it's a weird twisted, corrupt sort of parental love bc thats what he knows and has ever tried to really understand of his own volition afterwards.

...............................................

As for cold Daemon, while I do think Daemon would take great offense at Rhaenyra's vocalizing doubt of him and dismiss her claims of disloyalty its the way they had him refer to his grievances with Viserys and Rhaenyra also going back to how he treated Viserys as if Viserys always acted fairly towards Daemon? Because he didn't, and worse so against Rhaenyra in some ways...I don't know, Daemon always seemed a bit of a more of a talker than in show and he definitely wrote in "journals" in F&B. Could be just me.

Yeah we see the dude vulnerable and we often see him do heinous things...where's the "light" and softness other than a few cheek massages here and there that greatly under-number his "dark" moments?! Annoying. There isn't a balance at all or some sort of back and forth dynamism in his character that he's known for. And it seem more plausible to the audience bc we do not get to see how he and Rhaenyra build a home at Dragonstone bc of that stupid time jump. thus it's so much easier to just assume that he's been like this the entire period, which itself simply makes no sense. A lot more people would have to be constantly anxious for that to be true.

All that has been true abt HotD!Daemon, but it really becomes so obvious here, bc Rhaenyra's words about not trusting him simply don't coincide with her having this bond and understanding of him that goes beyond what Hess seems to think is a "challenge". Yes, of course they challenge each other (or are supposed to) and push the other's lines--it's part of what attracts the other to each other--but Hess seems to believe that is the only thing that draws them together and thus doesn't understand why they trust each other and it really shows. She assumes it's just a teen girl's flights of liking the "bad boy" for the sake of trying to "tame" him that she is just now starting to outgrow?!

When Ser Erryk brought you the crown, did not I myself place it upon your brow? yes, but before that you sought to lead a council of war while I labored alone in my bedchamber and afterward, when I thought it meet--- A folly, a folly!--- to consider the terms our foes put before us. ---to give up my brother’s throne to the traitorous lies of Otto Hightower?! My throne, Daemon. Mine. I think you used my words as an excuse to take your own revenge. To indulge the darkness you keep sheathed like a blade. You think me some monster. idk what to think, idk what you are. Or who it is you serve! am i not off to harrenhal even now to raise an army in ur name, Rhaenyra! Yours! Do you accept me as your queen and ruler? [long pause] or do you cling even now to what you think you lost? ‘what i think i lost?’ you did not lose it, you gave it away bc you bc you thought ever and only of your own glory and not of my father and his grief.

Again, when you go to not just episode 7 of the 1st season where Rhaenyra says she needs Daemon ("I need you uncle. We have always be meant to burn together."), implying she trusts him. Episode 2 of the same season where she tells him if he wants to "win" and take back that inheritance--that S2 E2!Rhaenrya says he's still trying to obtain--he'd have to kill her --- does Daemon not choose to not even try to manhandle her? She knew she wouldn't, too! So why is Daemon so static (answer: added misogynoir against Laena and making as if she didn't matter when in book, his having a family with her sort of "mellowed" him out and resettled/solidified his actual priorities--family--and so he can be more volatile against Rhaenyra in a faux attempt to be feminist). Yes he's the rogue prince...."rogue" people are not incapable of actually being non violent to those they care about....that's Daemon's entire thing!!!!

And yes, bk!Rhaenyra seemed to feel that Daemon was a good candidate for fatherdom and commandering her armies/being her partner partly bc of his relationship with Laena and his own twins showing that he was capable of it. That Rhaenyra is doubting thim to this degree after 6 long years where they could have maybe had this argument much earlier over something of else critical importance ANd Rhaenyra chooses this volatile man to be around her kids makes her look very stupid. I'm sorry. I think I said this already, but rhaenin-time already discusses it here:

I honestly think that Hess can't reconcile with a female protagonist who isn't always trying "tame" a man through partnering and "harnessing" their "evil" for the ethical status quo she is familiar with's order, and then have that character be ethically not either evil or "good".

But you know, I'm not bitter or anything...yes they are both kinda right and maybe im thinking too much of book Dameyra, but even the characters are still being inconsistent. I mean, Otto says Aegon is endangering their cred by hanging ratcatchers when he himself hung nobles at court in last season's epi 9?!

[pandainpyke]

Maester Aemond AU (1/2)

Well, after Evan's interview about how Aemond could end up being a Maester in Grand Sept gave me some power to post this old AU in my head about how Aemond could be if he stayed in Old Town.

- Start with how the Pink Dread incident ended up differently, that both Velaryon boys got scared after Aemond was mad with their prank, thus their dragons acted on their protective instinct haphazardly to eliminate the threat.

- Fortunately, Vermax and Arrax were still young dragon so their claws and fires can only injured their master's uncle, not claimed his life. This is merely an unfortunate event in the King's opinion, and those boys didn't need to hold any consequences. Alicent or Rheanyra didn't know the details about how Aemond got injured in the Dragon pit.

- Viserys agreed with Alicent that his second son's obsession with dragon must be stopped, let him be dragonless is better than being burnt to death next time. We're gonna send him to Old Town. (Yes, so they brought Daeron with Tessarion back)

- This is an unofficial disown, huh? Aemond wake up painfully with his arm in bandage and the news that you will be send to Oldtown in a couple of days.

'Dragonless and troublesome second son like me has no place in the godlike Targaryen family. I know that father doesn't love me, but now I just realized that Mother doesn't want me too.'

- His uncle wanted him to be a cupbearer or squire at first, but Aemond requested to admit into the Citadel instead. Since his arm still had some chronic hurt.

- He did quite well with his nerdy life there. Got a few friends from The Reach and Dorne. In less than 5 years he got several chains, his expertise was healing art but he hated Astrology.

- Laena still died, but since Aemond didn't be there so the funeral did happen smoothly. No conflict.

- So, Rheanyra didn't go paranoid with how the green got the biggest Westerosi flying nuclear like Old Granny Vhagar.

- So, she still did keep her marriage with Laenor. No Daemyra marriage here. (Harwin still died like before)

- Sorry Rheana, but grampy old granny didn't like you. She tried to claim Vhagar but ended up nearly dying from fire. Due to his daughter's injury, Daemon was a good dad here. He stayed with Rheana and oversee her recuperating with Baela in Pentos (or high tide).

- Aegon married Haelana like before, but Aemond could not come back to the ceremony since he joined Citadel field trip to Volantis and Yiti. Learned about Eastern Healing art like Chinese-yiti medication and acupuncture. A year later, he returned to Citadel and got his second silver link. He used an alias after getting famous, got many healing appointments with southern houses. Little silver hair healer.

- When he was 16, got kidnapped by some pirate from Pyke along with his Martell friend and the third son of Tarly.

- they demanded a ransom of gold equal to Aemond's weight. But after the letter reached King's Landing, the king and the hand thought it was a lie. So they replied to the letter saying that we would not pay. If that boy was so stupid that he could not take care of himself. You can keep him for yourself. The court had no money for such worthless people, maybe this attached one single silver coin was enough.

- No response from Old Town too because they also believe it's a fake.

- those pirates read the answer to Aemond. That is the moment that he truly realized how worthless he was in the eyes of his family.

- unfortunately, before they decided to throw him away in the sea, some plague widely spread in the area and yes, they needed a doctor. And that is how he met and made an acquaintance with Dalton Grayjoy.

- Aemond was released shortly after because his noble friend from Dorne paid the ransom for him.

- working like a dog to pay off his debt.

- invented some sort of westerosi-penicillin because he noticed that some area on the plagued corpse looked better if it made contact with *this* certain mold. This was a really breakthrough medical invention, but he is still a prick. He kept the extraction method secret to himself. Got third silver link and a ton of money.

- 18 year olds, was invited to Bravos and needed to travel through KL during Jace's birthday. He saw how Viserys splashed out a shit ton of money on this occasion. Even the prize for tourney winner was more than his ransom price that year. He asked his companion to help him shave off his hair, no more silver. He hated every Targaryen element on his body.

- He needed only one or two more chains to graduate and be an official maester. He wanted to discard his surname as soon as possible. Many houses already competed to get his service in advance.

- Somehow, his uncle just had known about his unfortunate experience in Pyke, and relayed it to his mother as well. Alicent wanted to apologize to her son so she called him back on the pretext that Rheanyra was about to give birth to her 4th children and we hadn't seen you for a decade.

- Aemond: wtf they need me to do......

- When he arrived Red keep, because his nearly baldhead and sloppy and old acolyte outfit, he was greeted without intending to be insulted by his nemesis nephews, "Are you a new servant?"

- well, that was a great motivation to stay outside until his sister finished her labor. He went to do some part-time job with healer guild in the city that night. (some knights that known Aemond since he was young was chosen to be his escort)

- Both Jace and Luke wanted to apologize to their uncle after some Kingguard told them that guy is Aemond, but they can't find him and the maester just informed them that the crown princess will have her labor tonight.

- The escort knights were astonished with the second prince ability, it's like a god work. Especially looking at his skill that handled complicated childbirths safely. They're about to celebrate with the guild personnel and the newly mother family but they were told to return to the keep immediately. Princess Rheanyra passed away while giving birth.

(1/2)

More later

[arabellasleopardcoat]

is there an otto fic in the works? *wiggles eyebrows*

My thoughts on Daemon and Aemond

Anon: Nope. But if some of you want it, the requests for my bingo are still open. And I have three pending, including the Alicent spanking fic.

What is in the works and what I wanted the Otto discourse for is an Aemond fic. If I plan right, it should be out the week after I wrap up Divine Intuition. I am hoping to gain some insight on Aemond's character the same way I pinned down Daemon. If you are up for seeing my method, it's under the cut. I totally used this ask as an excuse to talk about what I like.

So. As some of you know, I have not read the ASOIAF books, nor the ones pertaining the Dance of the Dragons. But this is not my first rodeo on fic writing, and before I write for a character, I like seeing what makes them tick.

Daemon was easier to crack down for me than Aemond. He has more screen time, which helps. But what really helped me nail down details about him was a Matt Smith's interview and his interactions with other characters. Especially, those with Viserys and women. From that, I got a few key points that I keep in mind every time I write him: Attention seeking, sadistic, controlling. I make sure to hit those in every scene he is in. But also, I try keeping in mind his motivations and his core values, loyalty, love for Viserys and Rhaenyra, competence (When he wants to)

I think in the case of Aemond, when considering his interactions with other characters, there are two that are key. Mother and Father.

Alicent is very important. She teaches him about the Faith, and it's clear she favors him. Aemond doesn't want to give her trouble, hence his attitude towards duty. He knows she has one problem child already, he doesn't want to be a cause for concern. It also determines his relationship with Aegon and Helaena. Aemond loves her. A lot.

Father should be taken in terms of absence. Viserys is just not there, so when looking for Aemond's father figure I have to look at two different stages. Childhood and teenage years. During childhood, he has Criston. I have been reading up discourse on him and rewatching a few of his scenes. He influences Aemond's sense of honor, he taught him how to fight, he actively parents him (See, the "All women are reflections of the Mother) To get Aemond, I need to get Criston.

But then, Otto comes back to King's Landing. And he influences Aemond during his teenage years, which is really relevant for a kid. This is where Aemond gets his sense of duty, his planning and his love for knowledge. Otto is a second son too, but one that is different to the other second son we are introduced to. He is one that stands by his own merits, that has risen to the highest position in the realm. Aemond probably looks up to him.

And you can't tell me that Otto was not an involved grandfather, because look how he acts when Helaena is making his toast or when Aemond gets up to give his. Watch his body language. He cares for these kids.

Finally, last talking point. I like Otto. I find him very interesting, and I like the mirroring with Corlys Velaryon. They both have the same objectives, getting their family on the Iron Throne. That's why I made him Aemond's Hand on Last Man On Earth (Which has to be the worst fic I have written, too many typos) I think him and Otto share the same ruthlessness, one that is very interesting to explore. And Aemond, obviously, soaks that up like a sponge. It shows even in the way he moves. When he is wrestling Aegon, it's not just siblings fighting to me. There is a sense of ruthlessness there, when he tugs at Aegon's leg, Aemond is pissed off and uncaring of hurting him. He is willing to get him to stay through any means.

Otto is blunt too, haughty. Despite being Hand, he is not a good courtier. He has the awkwardness of smart people, his brain moves too fast and gets frustrated when other's can't keep up. That's why he and Alicent clash, too. To Otto the picture is clear, to her, it takes her a bit longer. Many issues in their relationship would be solved if he took time to explain his thought process to her and listened to her thoughts. He doesn't. Otto thinks his reasoning is obvious. And that he knows best. Alicent feels blindsided and manipulated by his actions.

I think Aemond is similar. His speech is to the point, unless he is deliberately trying to insult someone (See the toast to his nephews) And even then, they are not particularly well hiden insults.

Then, there are Aemond's anger issues, of course. I have read a few Ewan Mitchell's interviews too. The boiling pot of emotion, being so cold and calculating on the outside (imitating Otto so hard in my opinion, mind over heart) but with the Targaryen's temper.

Still on the topic of anger, we have to agree Aemond is petty. So are Criston and Otto. He is just like his fathers.

So that's what I want the discourse for. It helps me, reading others opinions, even if they clash with mine because I get to think and spin my little web.

Sorry for the rambling! It's also eight in the morning for me, so probably not my most eloquent.

[darkestspring]

Part 7. Then Viserys dies and Rhaemond becomes king , returning home from Dragonstone. He was older now , more mellowed out. The first few years of ruling was uneventful, he watched as his children married and made him a doting grandsire to Jaceryce, Jaehera, little Aegon , Viserys and Mealor . Many had viewed his relationship with his queen as that of Jaceryce and Alysanne in their bad years, but it was getting better. But vile rumors of his strong boys were still whispered.

Part 8. Those rumors was that of them not being of his own blood, which was lies, the evidence he needed was their dragons. Yet the rumors still continued to surround him like a annoying mosquito. He was convinced that it was The Hightower’s scheming again and he needed to crush it.

Part 9. He announced that he would change the succession , that the throne would go to his oldest son with lady strong. That if he heard one more rumor about his dark haired boys not being Targaryen , he would view it as treason , which is punishable by death. Alicent was furious , asking why he did this. Rhaemond gave her a answer , that people should not poke at a dragon or they will be consumed by fire.

Part 10. The rumors stopped and Rhaemond continued his rule until for a few years, until he became became gradually ill. It was getting bad enough that he was in bed most of the day. Alicent , ever dutiful , looked after him. She had enjoyed this , seeing her beloved sick and in her hands. She had loved him for so many years and now she had the upper hand. If she had knows about the miracles of slow effecting poisons , she would have done this a lot earlier.

Part 11. It was not her intent to hurt Rhaemond , not permanent at least. It was to make him see that she was always there , see her love and devotion to him that she had carried in her heart since she was 15 years old , for him to see the error of his ways ,to redeem himself and their family. If he did she would truly forgive him. But alas , it was not meant to be...

Part 12. She had always been so careful with the poison , only giving him it in small doses, but one night she had slipped up, accidentally giving him a drop too much. The next morning he didn’t wake up and Alicents wails could be heard echoing their chamber.Team green had to act fast and crown Aegon before the team black/blue would find out. The dance of the dragons would still happen, the outcome still the same.

Part 13. Rhaemonds funeral was delayed for a time, as Alicent couldn’t bare the thought of burning his body. Many started to think that she was going insane, as servants could hear her talking to him. It took the interventions of Aegon , Aemond, Otto and Ser Cole for her to allow Rhaemonds body to burn. She had requested for a small piece of his hair that she carried in a locket. She had the locket around her neck when she died from winter fever years later.

Part 14. And that’s the tragic fate of King Rhaemond & Queen Alicent and the duality of love - Much love , trilogy anon.

OH GOD. IM STRUCK BY THIS SO MUCH, I WISH THEY HAD GOTTEN A HAPPY ENDING... DO DAEMON AND JACE, LUKE, JOFFREY EVER FIND OUT THAT ALICENT POISONED RHAEMOND? I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE UTTERLY OUTRAGE.

[sweetestpopcorn]

People just really love trying to make Rhaenyra out to be someone who is completely evil and heartless. I've seen so many people say that she would have been a horrible ruler based on how she was when she sat the Iron Throne during the dance, but nobody seems willing to consider the fact that for all we know, if she'd been allowed to become Queen when she was supposed to, she would have been a decent enough ruler?

Hi there Anon 🤗

The hatred Rhaenyra gets from a lot of the fandom's "neutrals" and "intellectuals" happens for several reasons. Let's break those down.

First of, Rhaenyra has a vag:na and not a pen:s. That alone already makes her a lot more evil than anyone with a pen:s, by default. Adding to her vag:na, instead of her being meek and obedient like any woman should be because #feminism Rhaenyra was her own person. She did what she wanted, had sex with men she loved (i.e., Daemon and Harwin) and not the man her father tried to force down her throat (i.e., Laenor) and who didn't want her.

How dare she not do her duty?! Who TF did she think she was to revolt against her arranged marriage?! The audacity!

Rhaenyra also did not act as a crying victim. She was resilient and kept going no matter how much sh:t piled itself around her - a very traumatic birth of her stillborn daughter and losing 4 sons included - Not even as she was about to be eaten by Sunfyre did she cry or beg.

Now do we like a woman who's unafraid in the face of death, and doesn't just lie there and take it when terrible things happen? Absolutely not, f:ck you, Rhaenyra. How dare you?!

Then of course, adding to her having a vag:na, not being a poor victim, having autonomy of her own body, we also have the fact that she was a Targaryen and looked like a Targaryen. AND adding to this, she loved and procreated with her own uncle.

How 👏🏻 Dare 👏🏻 She 👏🏻

Doesn’t she know she had to keep apologising for being a Targaryen until she died?! And procreate with someone who helped to cleanse her from incest sin?????? But what did she do? She f:cked her uncle.

Hate this chick.

Then we also have no critical thinking abilities and so we take every little thing written about her at face value or we cherry pick to make her even worse because this is #feminism. While we choose to say that 15 year old Lyanna was r@ped and abused by Rhaegar and had no choice we look the other way when Rhaenyra was seduced by 31 year old Daemon, countless times more experience than she was and more powerful as well and instead we also believe she tried to seduce poor innocent Criston Cole of 30 years of age 🤡 twice because Rhaenyra had some sort of mental deficiency. Also despite the fact it was Daemon she loved all her life as seen by her actions, we say she only married him by political advantages or… I don’t know she was an evil terrible b$tch who knows what she wanted?

Will no one think of the grown men?!!! Save them from this wicked teenager. Someone call Humbert he has experience with wicked teenagers! #worserhanlolita

So 7 (age difference between Lyanna and Rhaegar) clearly > than 15/16. This is math everyone I know it trust me.

Lyanna: had no choice was abused.

Rhaenyra: evil teenage seductress.

This is science everyone trust me. We are choosing as it fits our narrative. Ok?

Then another terrible example of what a monster she was was when she chose to spare Alicent and Helaena. Wow there! WOW. F_CKING. THERE! Even Hitler was kind compared to this!

And - AND - while Alicent wanted her four year old son’s eye pulled out because #justice #killthetoddler she wanted Aemond questioned sharply. Poor Alicent! Look at how evil Rhaenyra was! Cruelty towards children!!!!!! From Rhaenyra! Not Alicent, poor woman! Let me just... wipe away a few tears.

Finally, as more proof of how evil she was and equal to Aegon in her cruelty, it did not even cross her mind he would kill her. She only thought she would be thrown into prison.

See how this psychopath's mind works?!! Wow! Just wow!!! Move over Ted Bundy! Rhaenyra is here!

So clearly just an evil EVIL woman mad Queen who couldn’t do anything right. We should hate her so much. SOOOOO MUCCCHHHHHH.

See the truth Anon!