emmitaaa4

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#nessian

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Not to say I want a full blown IC civil war, but I am begging the Mother—im gonna need more than this.

Rhys: You are to stay away from her.

Azriel: Aight, beloved High Lord of mine.

Cassian, in the corner: *proudly nodding*

~ The End ~

Epilogue: After pulling a Cassian, Azriel lived happily ever after as feysand's adopted son, never to misbehave again.

#bit anticlimatic there #azriel #rhysand #cassian #elain archeron #nesta archeron #bat boys #acosf #acotar 5 #acotar incorrect quotes #incorrect acotar quotes #acotar imagine #elriel #feysand #nessian #acotar

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On point as always, @violetasteracademic .

Azriel in general is a very considerate man, always sensible to what the women in his life have gone through: we see it again in the bonus with how he interacts with Clotho, careful of his stance. He's in his head a lot (reminds me of when he wonders if his curt phrases towards Gwyn are "socially acceptable"). There's examples of this all throughout the books, notably when Mor and Feyre are insulted during the HL's meeting.

Interestingly, his reactions to any and every mention of Elain's name—to her pain—in SF are pointed (and there are more than a few), as if he cannot contain them, and we know he is usually impassible.

I fear people might misrepresent what you're saying as us claiming Az "doesnt care" about gwyn's trauma, but that is ofc not it at all: as you said, the first time their gazes meet, they are both reminded of that moment, its briefly (internally) acknowledged and he segways into training talk in an effort to lighten the air.

On Mate Behavior: Elriel

So, when it comes to Azriel's mate behavior, I would say the most commonly discussed point (which I definitely agree with) to *disprove* that Azriel displays any mate behavior towards Gwyn is his overall calm demeanor and focus on Eris when the Valkyrie are kidnapped in the middle of the night and dropped into the Blood Rite.

However, there is another example that additionally highlights the lack of "mate behavior" in the bonus chapter, and I truly don't see it come up that often, though I think it is even more telling!

When he meets Gwyn's gaze, and that bloody memory of when he first "met" her (if you would like to call that their meeting) flashes, he is otherwise completely unruffled. He simply reflects on Gwyn's growth, and two seconds later, is snorting and having an easy, playful conversation.

While this certainly points to their comfortability and fun banter that they share, it does not scream *mate behavior.*

ToG and CC spoilers ahead

I think about Rowan seeing Aelin's ruined back for the first time, and being so overcome with anger at discovering the violence that had been enacted on her that he took to the skies to get control of his violent instincts:

I think of Cassian in his bonus chapter with Nesta- going into a rage as he smelled Nesta's fear while she recalled Tomas's attempted assault. He would have gone to kill him right then, I have no doubt:

I think of Ruhn hating Lidia, being sick over discovering the female he had fallen for was The Hind. And yet, when Pollux lays a hand on her, he was ready to rip out his throat for hurting Lidia. He couldn't understand how he could hate her and need her and want to kill for her at the same time:

So I do think it's interesting that in comparison to the to the other mated males who get a POV and an inside look into their heads while they reflect on trauma their mates have been through (even before knowing they are mates, which is the case in all three of these examples) they are completely unhinged. And yet we get this pointed moment where Azriel actively reflects on Gwyn's trauma, the absolute horrors that had been done to her and... nothing. A snort, and a little bit of form correction and teasing.

Meanwhile in this same book, Elain gets called boring and Azriel's shadows are like hoe who do we need to mf-ing end right tf now:

Azriel has already established that he believes the Cauldron could be wrong. While I personally disagree that there is foreshadowing to Azriel and Gwyn being mates, even in trying to give it a fair and unbiased look and say okay- could they be mates? I still wind up drawing the conclusion that even if they are, it would mean as little to Azriel as Elain's mating bond currently means to her.

I am personally super open minded about whether or not Azriel and Elain are true mates. I think a reveal that they are could be lovely. I also think them choosing each other above all, even fate, would be lovely.

But there is simply no denying that these two already have a set up plotline of questioning the Cauldron, and the only two characters *acting* like mates in this scenario are Az and Elain.

As always, I am Lucien and Gwyn positive even though I ship Elriel, so be kind in the comments! But I just really don't see how this could possibly play out any other way. Azriel has had too many on page opportunities, even from his personal POV, to display mate behavior towards Gwyn and there is nary a lick. It's just... not how a lead up to a mate reveal typically goes. So the pure, undiluted facts are that even if you think Sarah is a "fated mate" author above all, she is not treating these characters as she usually does. And that is noteworthy.

Thank you for joining me on this dissertation!

#elriel #azriel

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The way Azriel follows the sound of Elain's laughter. The way they then exchange a deliciously charged look.

The way Elain rushed to make herself pretty when Azriel grabbed the potatoes.

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i usually try to ignore the other side’s posts, but tell me why i just saw them say Gwyn has shown more interested in Azriel in a few months than Elain has in an year (+) ??

pardon 😃

they’ve internalized the idea that Elain “cant stand just how much she desires Lucien” (he’s just so nice and soo hot; she must want him deep down) that it has muddled what she’s actually showing us.

Cause apparently now her interest in Az is dismissible. Great.

#i would have lived in peace but my enemies brought me war #red rising reference im just so tired #elriel #elain archeron #pro elain #anti e/ucien #antigwynriel #pro elriel #azriel

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“A woman is not written in braille, you don’t have to touch her to know her.”

I'm tearing up. The comment below is how Azriel would speak of Elain when xyz happens and he lets his heart pour out (and I have the evidence of course).

She doesn’t like change and loves to love the world around her.

“Beautiful.” / “After all of this, the world needs more gardens.”

“In celebrating the traditions, even through the presents, we honor those who fought for its very existence, for the peace this city now has.”

She loves so hard she hurts herself at times and doesn't let me pick up the pieces, even though I always do it anyway.

So Elain silently cried, the tears so unending that I wondered if it was some sign of her heart bleeding out. Some sliver of hope that had shattered today--that love would trump even a mating bond.

(...)

Azriel carried Elain down, my sister silent and unresponsive in his arms. (...) Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm (...) and led my sister toward the back doors into the garden, sunlight bathing them.

"What if" - I jerked my chin toward the window, to my sister and the shadowsinger in the garden. “That is what she needs?

“I didn’t hear you.” Azriel stepped forward. “But you heard something else."

“Azriel’s hazel eyes churned as he studied my sister, her too-thin body.”

“I can help her,” said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose.

“A seer,” he said, more to himself than us. “The Cauldron made you a seer.” / It made sense, I supposed, that Azriel alone had listened to her. / Elain blinked and blinked, eyes clearing again. As if the understanding had freed her from whatever murky realm she’d been in.

“What about Elain?” / “I’m getting her back” “Are you hurt?” She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. “You came for me.” 

Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest. (...) Rhys lunged for Azriel, taking Elain from him and gently setting my sister down. Azriel rasped, swaying on his feet, “We need Helion to get these chains off her.”

 

He gently took her hand and pressed the hilt of the legendary blade into it. “It will serve you well.” (...) I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife.

Az said nothing. No, he just moved toward her. “Sit. I’ll take care of it.”

 “Wait,” Azriel said, nothing but command in his voice. (...) Azriel didn’t let go. “Wait until everyone is seated before eating.”

“I’d feel bad for the mice,” Azriel muttered. (...) earning a grateful smile from Elain. (...) the light that returned to Elain’s eyes.

“Because of the shit with Elain?” Azriel stilled. “What happened to Elain?” (...) A fight with Nesta. don’t bring it up,” he warned when Azriel’s eyes darkened. Cassian surveyed the shadows gathered around Az. “You all right?” His brother nodded. “Fine.” But shadows still swarmed him. Cassian knew it was a lie, but didn’t push it. Az would speak when he was ready”

Nesta saw the blow land, like a physical impact, in Elain’s face, her posture. No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike.

“We won’t allow any harm to come to Elain. Rhys warded her this morning, and we have eyes on her at all times.” “Eyes can be blinded,” Nesta said. “Not the ones under my command,” Azriel said with a soft menace. Nesta met his stare, knowing he was the only one aside from Feyre who could truly understand her hesitation.

She’s stubborn like a mule but as delicate as a flower, always sad but never beaten.

“It’s already ended badly. Now it’s just a matter of how we meet the consequences.”

“Why wouldn’t I be all right?” she asked, a smile lighting up her face. I’d seen those same smiles before, on my own damn face. / Elain, it seemed, was as sleepless as me.

“Shall I tend to my little garden forever? You can’t have it both ways. You cannot resent my decision to live a small, quiet life, while refusing to let me do anything greater.”

I love the way she understand what I'm trying to say without needing to hear me say it, when I can't seem to formulate anything at all.

Elain looked up at Azriel, their eyes meeting, his hand still lingering on the hilt of the blade.

Then his gaze shifted to Elain, and though it was utterly neutral, something charged went through it. Between them. Elain’s breath caught slightly.

He left the rest unspoken. (…) Elain's large brown eyes flickered, well aware of all that. Just as he knew she was well aware of why Azriel so rarely came to family dinners these days.

"Yes," Elain breathed, like she read the decision.

She's probably the best thing that's happened to me.

“It’s for the headaches everyone always gives you. since you rub your temples so often.” (...) Then Azriel tipped his head back and laughed. I’d never heard such a sound, deep and joyous. Elain smiled again, ducking her head. Azriel mastered himself enough to say, “Thank you.” I’d never seen his hazel eyes so bright, the hues of green amid the brown and gray like veins of emerald. “This will be invaluable.”

It was three by the time the others went to bed. Azriel and Elain remained in the sitting room.

Azriel stood in the doorway, monitoring them. As if he’d heard Elain’s sharp laugh and wondered what had caused it.

Shadows darkened his eyes, full of enough pain that (...) she understood why he stood near the doorway, why he wouldn��t go near the fire. His secret to tell, never hers.

There she was. The faelights gilded Elain’s unbound hair, making her glow like the sun at dawn.

A headache powder he kept on his nightstand at the HoW. Not to use, but just to look at. Which he'd done every night he'd slept there. Or attempted to sleep there.

He chuckled, unable to suppress the impulse. (...) Elain's mouth twitched into a smile (...) He offered a smile back.

His head went quiet.

There is lust. There is tension. But there is also so much more.

#my loves #wrote this with lana playing im not okay #elriel #elain archeron #azriel #pro elain #pro azriel #acowar #acofas #acosf

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“Ritual”

The last of the three illustrations I made last year for “Witchzine” fanzine. The theme was “Witches’ Pharmacy/Healing Witches”, so the idea of my illustrations was inspired by the preparation of a healing ritual.

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Azriel realizing his new room in the townhouse on Solstice eve has a window that overlooks the garden, and staring out it during a whole ass conversation with multiple reminders he is *still* looking out the window towards the garden.

Being unwilling to make a bet on whether Elain's mate will show up to Solstice, despite being willing to bet on Cassian's shredded wings after they both almost died. And *not turning from the window*

Remaining at the window and then.... *turning from the garden window at last*.

🧐🧐🧐 hmmm. What's so interesting in the garden Azzy that you can hardly pull your attention away while Rhys and Cassian are talking to you?

Could it be the girl you stay up until 3 am with the very next night listening to as she shows you her sketches for her gardening plans? Hmmm.

In my headcannon, Elain is out in the garden drawing her sketches at this very moment, and Azriel is nervous and anxious to bring it up to her or ask her about it on the sly so he has an excuse to sit and listen to her talk about her passions all night.

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All of this focus on Azriel’s horny feelings for Elain, but can we please talk about how Elain completely led her moment with Az in the bonus chapter?

Elain closed the distance, and her breathing quickened as she again paused, now a scant foot away.

Azriel let his shadows whisk away the box as she said softly, "Put it on me?"

His head went quiet. But he took the necklace, opening the clasp as she exposed her back, sweeping her hair up in one hand to bare her long, creamy neck.

Azriel's fingers lingered at her nape, atop the first knob of her spine. Slowly, Elain pivoted into his touch. Until his palm lay flat against her neck.

"I should go," Elain said, but made no move to leave.

Her arousal drifted up to him, and his eyes nearly rolled back in his head at the sweet scent. He'd beg on his knees for a chance to taste it.

Elain shuddered, drifting closer. So close one deep breath would brush her breasts against his chest.

“Yes" Elain breathed, like she read the decision. Just this taste in the dead of the longest night of the year, where only the Mother might witness them.

Elain's mouth parted slightly, her eyes scanning his before fluttering shut.

Offer and permission.

Girlie went for what she wants and Azriel, ever the gentleman, read her cues perfectly and only took what she offered. I love a couple built with respect and mutual attraction, there’s truly nothing hotter.

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what i find funny with the whole "elriel is too predictable" thing is that it's basically like saying the math is mathing too well.

now hear me out, but perhaps it's because the author has actually spent time setting it up?

just a thought.

#elriel #elain archeron #azriel

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Elain: What do we say when making bread?

Cassian, glumly: That's the dough rising.

Elain: And what do we not say?

Cassian, sadly: That's the yeast fucking.

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look me in the eyes and tell me this isnt cassian with azriel.

thats right you cant.

#azriel #cassian #bat boys #acotar #incorrect acotar quotes #acotar memes #azriel acotar #cassian acotar #azriel x cassian #acosf #sjm #sjmaas #a court #a court of thorns and roses

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no way people are actually using that as a point against elriel, and it’s probs the same people who are adamant that elriel is easy & convenient 😭

“So much would have to happen for Elriel to be together!”

Yah, it’s called a plot babes.

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Hello everyone so I came across this beautiful fanart of Eros and Psyche on pinterest and Elriel immediately came to my mind.

I would’ve loved to recreate this with them for elriel month but my art skills are a bit rusty right now and I’m super busy :(

So if anybody wants to take on the job here’s the pic 🩷 🎨juliametzgerart did an incredible job

#elriel coded #art inspo

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You know why i can’t get behind the Gwynriel ship?

It would be unfaithful to the books to agree with the premise that Azriel is an entitled male that regards Elain shallowly—it contradicts so many aspects of his characterization, and foregoes dozens of moments from the books that show otherwise.

I could literally list out 30 reasons why I know am confident Elriel are endgame—in terms of plot, themes, motives, characterization, growth, writing patterns, and just sheer logic—but honestly the very foundations of the GA ship are flaky, and atp we aren’t even debating the same characters.

For instead of reading the bonus chapter in the context of the books, most of them seem to read the books in the context of the bonus, and what they’ve made of it. There is a reason they think Azriel is “out of character” in his PoV: they’ve mischaracterized him (for the most part), made him into something he is not, and thereby found ways to dismiss any and every genuine moment between him and Elain.

They’re going about it backwards (which also explains the recency bias, and how they’ve decentered Elain in her own story). What I can’t wrap my head around, is how they then ship this entitled, selfish, immature man with a character they understandably adore—because “he’s different with her” and she was written to be able to “handle” the darkness they define him by.

I just cant.

#elriel #elain archeron #azriel #pro azriel #antigwynriel #pro elriel

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i have this report to write but all im thinking about is that Azriel associated the moment between him and Elain to the sanctity of the Mother, whom he has a sweet reverence for.

idk what’s going to come out with the mating bond situation, but I can just imagine the Mother blessing Elain & Azriel and basically im not okay.

#elriel #azriel #elain archeron #stanning the Mother and beefing with the Cauldron is so real of him

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my favorite thing about azriel is that his response to elain having a mate that isn’t him was basically, “well then this whole continents religion is wrong” which is the most melodramatic thing he could have possibly said

(and then he like immediately finds out he was correct and there’s no way he’s ever going to shut up about it)

#god i love them so much #az is so dramatic i cant wait to see him all brooding and jealous #elriel