#second son syndrome…. daemon also being his mother’s favorite…. because he was like her….

[rhaenyradelights]

I find it interesting that alicent's favorite son is catholic\wannabe daemon.

he’s also the one adhering most closely to his Duty… he’s studying, he’s training, he bonded with the most powerful dragon, he feels righteously owed power…. he is abiding by the rules set out by this universe. he’s not challenging alicent’s perspective of the necessary and correct path forward, he is RUNNING ahead to make sure everything comes to pass. aegon is clearly a fucked up little cretin but he’s also stunningly excruciatingly aware of the genre trappings of his situation, so alicent not only has to deal with his transgressions but his Awareness and his Terror, which she cannot allow herself to be infected by. aegon and helaena both have knowledge of things that alicent cannot bear to look at, and aemond is jumping headfirst into the game with the intent to win. all of those paths are tragic but one is much easier to face head on.

[writingsofwesteros]

Yeah, I can't remember the au name either lol 😅😆 I think it was something to do with shield or protector or something, but three is a charm is cool and easy to remember, now I'm thinking about a recap and refresher.

I love the thought so much, though. I've been thinking about that au more. Viserys marrying both Alicent and Laena to appeal to both Otto and Corlys + Rhaenys. Laena isn't aged down a lot like in the show (for some reason lmao) she's still the same age as Alicent and Rhaenyra and she is still the elder sibling to Laenor (another useless change in the show. In the book Laena was literally nicknamed "the boy in the belly" while Rhaenys was pregnant with her during the great council meeting that they passed both her and Laena over in favor of Viserys for. These writers, man 💀)

Viserys still bedding them for his pleasure and ignoring their obvious uneasiness like those show scenes with Ali (cries), but they drink moon tea because they do not like him nor want to carry his seed. They put up with him to please their parents and the Realms, and Laena also agreed to the match with the thought of secretly claiming her birthright and her mothers in the only way she can, by marrying the man that was chosen over them.

Daemon being Daemon and wanting everything Viserys has because he has second son syndrome. Him being Laenas sworn shield while Criston is still Alicents, even though alicole doesn't happen in this au.

Daemon, knowing they don't want to bear his brothers seed, and volunteering to father their children is so delicious. Alicent is scandalized at first, but Laena is intrigued.

Viserys and the lords and ladies of court being none the wiser to the fact that Daemon is the true father of their children. Both the girls probably love having their children then, and probably have more than canon, because they know that while Viserys is in fact doing what they feared and ignoring them all in his favoritism for Rhaenyra (the last piece of Aemma he has left in this world) and acting with them as he does in the show. But they know that in private, Daemon gives them all the cherished fatherly love they need, and in public he just seems like that overbearing protective uncle, as he used to be for Rhaenyra. Nobody bats an eye. Glad the Rogue Prince has seemingly grown content in the capital and behaving... mostly...

Except for Otto, Gwayne, Corlys, Rhaenys, and Laenor. They know the girls too well. They watch their eyes follow Daemon more than normal for sisters-in-law. They see how the children, though they call him uncle, always run to Daemon for everything they should go to Viserys for.

Criston being Rhaenyras secret baby daddy instead of Harwin in this au, him and Rhaenyra and Laenor being the lavender poly couple instead, and him not being cruel to the boys as they are actually his, Mayhaps him and Laenor even have a drunken tryst once or twice, hehe 🤪

Mayhaps him and Laenor even have a drunken tryst once or twice, hehe

Criston will pretend nothing of the sort happened ;)

Alicent and Laena enjoying each others company as they walk through the royal gardens. Many had suspected the wives would fall into jealous but oh, how wrong they were