#so e/riels continue to show their true colors... who's surprised? not me!!

[gwyns]

“Azriel can’t be with Gwyn because he will only ever associate her with her trauma” weird how that didn’t stop Rhysand falling in love with a woman who literally died in front of him.

oh but that doesn't count, silly anon! we have to cherry pick things, remember? like how gwyn can't possibly ever have a sexual relationship with anyone because of her assault but rhys, lucien and nesta all can because... reasons!!!

[acourtofthought]

I decided to rewatch Pride and Prejudice and the similarities to Elain's current situation continue jumping out to me.

First Elain (aka Elizabeth) was not the sister expected to find the best match in marriage. In P&P, Jane was the "most beautiful" one (in ACOTAR that's technically Elain) but the fact that Jane (aka Nesta) was almost guaranteed to secure a wealthy husband is similar to how Mother Archeron raised Nesta on the belief that she was their hope for an advantageous marriage. Neither Mrs. Bennett nor Mother Archeron believed Elizabeth (or Elain) to be their "meal ticket", so to speak.

In the end, while Jane (Nesta) did marry someone with an impressive pedigree, it was Elizabeth who ended up marrying someone of an even higher station. Just like Elain is mated to someone who (unknown to them at this time) is set up to become a High Lord.

But before Elizabeth ended up with Darcy, she showed an interest in Wickham, having washed her hands of Darcy after their first meeting (and a few thereafter). It's clear that though she was still drawn to Darcy on some level (talking about him even if it was just to complain, paying close attention to his conversation with Caroline Bingley, showing surprise / confusion after he helps her into the carriage), we see her continually remind herself and others that she has "sworn to loath him for all of eternity" because of the initial impression she had of him.

I always find it strange when people compare Az / Elain to Darcy and Elizabeth because Darcy and Elizabeth's romantic tension is born from their initial disdain which is what makes their later glances and lingering touches so memorable. Her thinking that he has hated her from the start and then being surprised when his actions suggest otherwise (in that way, Lucien would be more like Elizabeth's character, thinking that Elain has no interest in him).

But Az and Elain are completely lacking in the enemies to lovers department.

To me, Az would be more like Wickham in the story.

Elizabeth has convinced herself she has no interest in Darcy and instead turns her eye to Wickham who begins showing her attention. She's convinced that he's a good man and that Darcy is further proven in the wrong until we later find out Wickham is the one who kept truths from Elizabeth (which is line with Az telling the reader that Elain had no idea the things he had done meaning he hides parts of himself from her). And just as Elizabeth's favor of Wickhams fell once she learned of his true colors, it seems Elain's favor of Az has fallen after he called her a mistake. After the truth became known in P & P, there was no real confrontation between Elizabeth and Wickham because their relationship never really got off the ground and I imagine the same will be said for E/riel.

Even though Elizabeth eventually realizes that Darcy is a great man, she's still stubborn and unwilling to admit it until the end (hence why her father, mother and Jane are shocked to find she wants to marry him, they were convinced she hated him - sounds a lot like Az's line of "she has no interest in him anyway").

P & P ranks as one of the greatest love stories of all time and it doesn't make it to the top of those charts because she had a sweet and gentle romance with Wickham, who looked like the "healthier" of the two possible love interests at first glance. Were Elizabeth and Wickham not at first friendly and agreeable towards one another, like E/riel, versus how Darcy and Elizabeth initially got along?

When Darcy first refuses to dance with Elizabeth then later does dance with her but barely makes conversation, is that not similar to Elain's refusal to get to know Lucien?

When Elizabeth begins to soften a bit towards Darcy then completely withdraws and refuses his proposal after she learns of the part he played in separating Jane and Mr. Bingley, is that not reminiscint of Elain walking with Lucien, inviting him back to Velaris at the end of ACOWAR only to do a complete 180 in the novella and SF where she all but ignores him?

The odds being stacked against two people because of misunderstandings and miscommunications since their first meeting, yet the couple still finding their way to one another is why the HEA feels so hard fought yet well earned for Elizabeth and Darcy and there's is no setup more similar to that than Elucien.