#luke is a pretty consort

[daenerysies]

rhaenyra is as much of a girl’s girl as the society she lives in allows her to be.

book wise she has multiple ladies in waiting (not just alicent, which is a grave oversight in the show), one of which is said to have gouged out her own eyes at the sight of rhaenyra’s murder. that doesn’t sound like someone who isn’t capable of inspiring loyalty from the women around them. rhaenys fully and wholeheartedly supported rhaenyra and her cause, even dying in her attempts to make her the first queen regnant of the seven kingdoms. laena betrothed her daughters to rhaenyra’s sons, ensuring that her blood sat both the iron throne and the driftwood throne, all while being a pretty difficult backing to break due to the wealth and naval power of the velaryons (all of this in spite of the bastardy rumors surrounding jace and luke). the agreement also puts forward how politically astute rhaenyra is, and how she didn’t just rely on her father’s word to put her on the throne. she made alliances using her sons hand in marriage; borros baratheon might not have declared for aegon had a proposal taken place the night luke brought rhaenyra’s terms. baela was only held back from partaking in the many battles because of her dragon’s size, otherwise she would have been right beside her betrothed fighting for rhaenyra. there’s even a chance that rhaena would have joined had she had a rideable dragon of her own. she had mysaria, a former sex worker, as her mistress of whisperers, a very esteemed position on her small council. the cases of rosby and stokeworth have no bearing on this, because they were never named as heirs (along with being literal children during a war time) which is what rhaenyra was using as the basis for her rulership. jeyne arryn knew her own position as lady of the eyrie would be challenged (again) if aegon stepped over rhaenyra and subsequently supported her cause. important women like alysanne blackwood and sabitha frey were key players in cregan’s army.

show wise she is shown in the season two trailer to be taking advice from rhaenys and allowing her to be a part of the war efforts. baela and rhaena are explicitly included on her war council, with rhaena as her cupbearer. moondancer is no longer a hardly rideable dragon and baela seems to be taking direct part in the war. rhaenyra is already shown in a set picture to be communicating with mysaria (whether that’s discussing blood and cheese, the aftermath of it, or something entirely different remains to be seen). these are not the acts of someone who hated other women, and using her falling out with alicent and the resulting enmity between them (that is almost completely one-sided due to the difference in power dynamics) as an excuse to otherwise is worse than strange, considering alicent’s canonical goal was to seat her son, a known violent misogynist, on the throne over a woman who was the named heir to the king.

the green’s entire ideological standpoint is that women cannot rule, ever, for it would make the main members of the green’s powerless, and any other lord or heir’s claim would be up for debate if they have an elder sister. if the iron throne had truly been aegon’s by right alicent, otto, and criston would not have left viserys’ body to rot for days AND they would have had the backing of most of the houses. if alicent had cared more for her children’s wellbeing she would have convened a great council before the war began or considered any other effort that would not lead to her children fighting on dragonback. rhaenyra’s (peaceful) ascension would have at least started the necessary changes needed to grant women more authority and (!) autonomy in the seven kingdoms. queen consorts had significantly less influence after her murder, along with the targaryen’s losing their ability to hatch dragons. rhaenyra does not need to be a feminist for her cause to be inherently feminist by proxy.

rhaenyra was not a feminist, but she did have great love for other women. it’s disingenuous at best and downright insulting at worst to try to paint her as anything else. she inspired loyalty even after her murder. if the black’s cause had truly relied on putting rhaenyra on the throne, her armies would have disbanded once she was dead. instead corlys and larys poisoned aegon, with rhaenyra’s son being placed on the throne afterwards. it was ultimately about bloodlines in the end. jaehaera suffered the unfortunate consequences of an ambitious hand because of her status as aegon’s daughter. it plays directly into how alicent outlived her entire family, besides jaehaera, and went mad with grief, learning to hate the color green. how greed and the allure of power can and will corrupt those who choose to make that a priority in their lives, and how the innocent will usually pay the price for those sins.

#house of the dragon #fire and blood #rhaenyra targaryen #pro rhaenyra targaryen #team black #anti team green #anti team green stans #anti alicent hightower #anti aegon ii targaryen #hate rhaenyra all you want #but stop conflating your hatred of her with factually incorrect takes #the only team constantly harping about feminism #is the team who’s been babied by a show that wants to change the core meaning behind #the dance of the dragons #aegon only having a daughter by the end of it all #and NOT naming her heir #is the most telling result that the war happened #because of rhaenyra’s womanhood #btw i don’t care how ‘interesting’ and ‘full of nuance’ your fav characters are so keep it to yourself :)

[omnipotent-scient]

Personally, I've always perceived Rhaenyra as an entitled brat. That was sort of how she was portrayed in the book. Daemon was pretty nasty as well, as he groomed Rhaenyra. He was teaching her "how best to touch a man to bring him pleasure," if Mushroom is to be believed.

I am inclined to believe Mushroom.

I think most of Rhaenyra's behaviors at Daemon's fault, but I do think that Rhaenyra is mad as she wanted to torture her little brother for calling her bastard children 'bastards'. That isn't sane behavior, and nothing really excuses it. Aemond really was defending himself.

Alicent should have asked for Rhaenyra's boys to be swatted on the hands wooden spoon a good few times, not an eye. (Lucerys should not have had a dagger. Why would a child need a dagger?)

I don't think anyone thought Rhaenyra was still heir after Aegon was born. Viserys literally broke the laws of the entire realm for her.

War was inevitable, and there was nothing Rhaenyra could have done aside from marrying her infant brother.

I don't know if you've been asked something like this before. I also have no idea if the background to my question makes sense, but do you think there was any way Rhaenyra could have become Queen without breaking laws, murdering kin, and or bloodshed?

Who started breaking laws? —The Greens

Who started murdering kin?—The Greens

Who started bloodshed?— The Greens

In a monarchy, which Westeros is and has been for THOUSANDS of years the king's words is the law. Not that of his predecessors, but of the present ruling monarch.

Viserys named his 8 year old daughter as his heir, he varied from custom yes, but never broke law. HE IS THE LAW.

Viserys also broke custom by marrying Alicent, a daughter of a second son and not a ruling lord. A woman that could not give him anything of importance, not money, not a fleet, not any great allegiance. He married her simply because loved her. Being the second time he broke CUSTOM for a woman he loved. Rhaenyra and Alicent.

Even if Viserys allowed his 16 year old daughter to be wed to her 6 year old brother, you think that would prevent war? You people are simply stupid if you think so. Aegon (Otto & Alicent) could easily imprison Rhaenyra and simply put it out as she died, or simply even just end her life. And obviously with their children being young(if they had any, very unlikely) Aegon could crown himself as king rather than prince consort. And do you really think Alicent would let her precious son be king consort to a wanton woman? We see this with Jaehaerys' children Daenerys and Aemon.

I don't think anyone thought Rhaenyra was still heir after Aegon was born. Viserys literally broke the laws of the entire realm for her.

The Blacks? Literally many at court more than even the Greens supported Rhaenyra as heir. Even afterwards, during the war Rhaenyra had much more supporters than Aegon, even after her death.

Rhaenyra is mad as she wanted to torture her little brother for calling her bastard children 'bastards'. That isn't sane behavior, and nothing really excuses it. Aemond really was defending himself. Alicent should have asked for Rhaenyra's boys to be swatted on the hands wooden spoon a good few times, not an eye.

Right, Rhaenyra insisting for Aemond to be questioned sharply is mad but Alicent asking for a five year old's eye to be cut out is perfectly sane behaviour, yes? Be serious right now. Do you really think Viserys out of all people would let his son be tortured? Rhaenyra knew of that, she wanted Aemond to admit that his mother, Alicent has been spreading rumours abt easy as that.

It wasn't just for the insults either, Luke's nose was broken, Jace was hit in the head. And Joff was thrown into dragon droppings.

Afraid that the boy would raise the alarm, Prince Aemond shouted at him to be quiet, then shoved him backward into a pile of dragon droppings.

Aemond fought back, breaking Luke’s nose with a punch, then wrenching the sword from Joff’s hands and cracking it across the back of Jace’s head, driving him to his knees. As the younger boys scrambled back away from him, bloody and bruised, the prince began to mock them, laughing and calling them “the Strongs.”

Jace at least was old enough to grasp the insult. He flew at Aemond once again, but the older boy began pummeling him savagely…until Luke, coming to the rescue of his brother, drew his dagger and slashed Aemond across the face, taking out his right eye.

Aemond was TEN. Jace was SIX, Luke FIVE, Joff only THREE.

A 10 year old Pummeling (= boxing, repeatedly puching) and 6 year old is a perfectly good thing to do.

Lucerys should not have had a dagger. Why would a child need a dagger?

Because this child, is a prince? Almost everyone had daggers at that time, Kings, Queens, Princes, Princesses, Ladies, Lords, Commonborn, every one had daggers. They carried it for personal protection, even Lucerys.

Не was teaching her "how best to touch a man to bring him pleasure," if Mushroom is to be believed. I am inclined to believe Mushroom.

Even then, if Rhaenyra is such an 'entitled brat' why would she want to please the son of a steward of a Lord. And that too, not even a major Lord. Why would she want to please a no-one that became a someone because of HER.

Personally, I've always perceived Rhaenyra as an entitled brat. That was sort of how she was portrayed in the book.

She was portrayed as spoiled, yes. How could she not be? She came after many miscarriages and stillbirth, many other losses in the family. To her parents she was their first daughter, both of them motherless on their own. To Baelon, she was his first granddaughter after the loss of this wife, son, aemon and the rest of his siblings. To Jaehaerys and Alysanne, she was probably the first great-grandchild they met, she came after they lost most of their children (+Jocelyn who was as good as daughter, Rhaenys and probably never met her children till the feast and tourney of 98). She was a light in a time where her family was sinking from the inside.

I don't know how fighting for something that is yours, and have been for over TWENTY YEARS is seen as entitlement rather advocating and defending her own right?

There is someone who is portrayed as entitled, however. Alicent Hightower. Who thought simply because she popped out the King's son, means he should become a king. And this son who thought simply because he was a man with a cock, he was more fit to rule than a daughter without a cock.

Why should I explain the basic of things to strangers as if they're 5 and lack comprehension? Lol😭

#canon rhaenyra targaryen #canon asoiaf #canon alicent hightower #a song of ice and fire #aegon iii targaryen #house targaryen #queen rhaenyra #rhaenyra targaryen #alicent hightower #Aegon iii #the dance of the dragons #Blacks vs Greens #rhaenyra vs aegon

[drakaripykiros130ac]

Apparently Ewan Mitchell (actor of Aemond) commented on the theory that Aemond and Helaena have been having an affair, saying that the fans who believe that won’t be disappointed.

Helaena pretty much confirmed that Aegon doesn’t sleep with her and only offers some attention when drunk (same thing happened with Cersei and Robert). And yet, she has three kids (just like Cersei). Daemon and Rhaenyra have no doubt been sleeping together quite often and had the exact same number of kids together (Visenya included. I refuse to exclude her just because the greens caused Rhaenyra’s miscarriage).

Aemond has shown clear interest in Helaena in episodes 7, 8 and 9, as opposed to Aegon who seems to be repulsed by her, and views her more as property than a wife. And the way Helaena was eying Aemond in episode 9 got me thinking for a while now about the dynamic Aegon IV - Naerys - Aemon.

Can you imagine the looks on TG fans if it’s finally confirmed that Aegon’s own “legitimate” children are Aemond’s bastards? Oh, sweet poetic justice.

At least Jace, Luke and Joffrey are the reigning Queen’s children, confirmed to be of her blood. It hardly matters whether or not they are of the blood of her former consort. She is the monarch. How can we be sure that Helaena’s children are really of the blood of the greens’ self-declared king? If they’re not, then THAT is real treason.

Or better yet, can you imagine the scandal if it turns out that Otto and Alicent know about it, and hid the truth this whole time for their own ambition? It wouldn’t be the first time Alicent’s hypocrisy came to light.

#house of the dragon #team black #anti alicent hightower #anti greens #anti otto hightower #rhaenyra targaryen #queen rhaenyra #anti team green #pro team black #hotd #house of the dragon season 2 #anti aemond stans #anti green stans #anti aemond targaryen #princess helaena #helaena targaryen #aemond x helaena #anti aegon ii targaryen #house of dragons #pro house targaryen #jaehaera targaryen #maelor targaryen #anti house hightower #house targaryen #pro rhaenyra #daemon x rhaenyra #hotd rhaenyra #black queen #black princess #jacaerys velaryon

[thebadboyfanclub]

Take Care Of Me, My Love (Aemond x Reader)

Hey y’all, how y’all doing? Ok let’s cut to the shit, I felt inspired and wrote this so. Enjoy!

Princess (y/n),

First of her name

The first child of Daemon targaryen

And the only child of Lady Mysaria

Princess of the Dragonstones and the rightful heir of the iron throne after Rhaenyra.

Well sort of, Rhaenyra had embraced her as her own since (y/n) never had a true mother, as soon as she was born Mysaria had fled the palace, leaving her daughter behind with Daemon who was delighted of how easily he had gotten rid of Mysaria, (y/n) never heard of her or from her until later on in her life when someone informed her that Mysaria had died. She then had Laena who was very graceful and kind to (y/n), no one could deny that she loved her, however when the twins were born only her father truly paid attention to her, she now had kids of her own and a very broody husband to manage.

When Rhaenyra wed her father Daemon she finally felt the true love and touch of a mother, (y/n) admired Rhaenyras strength and how she stood tall no matter the circumstance, she was (y/n)s mentor and Jace, Luke and Joffrey were such joy to be around.

When it was announced to her via her step brother Jacaerys that not only were they betrothed, Rhaenyra declared Jacaerys as the rightful heir.

(Y/n) felt like the world had caved in, she was the first child, she has been prepared for her duties since she was just a toddler, now she was told she could only be “the wife” and kings consort.

To say she was livid was an understatement, how dare they arrange a marriage without asking for her agreement, Jace might be content with being a mere player in Rhaenyras game but (y/n) felt her blood boil at the thought of anyone controlling her life.

So she did was she does best, in the midst of night she went and retrieved her dragon.

Ralla hatched when (y/n) was still a baby, a day after her first name day (y/n) hugged the egg and the first cracks started to appear. Since then Ralla and (y/n) were attached, especially on the nights when (y/n) felt alone.

Ralla was a fairly big dragon, she had grown to be bigger than Syrax and she got the nickname of “Ralla the Lady of Ice” she was white as snow and her fire breath was blue, stronger and brighter than most of the other dragons.

Up in the sky she could finally breathe, everything seemed so small from that point of view and sometimes (y/n) wished she could live on Rallas dragon back. She was flying in no particular direction until she heard wings of another dragon flapping pretty close

“īlon issi daor mērī Ralla”*1

She said as she lightly rubbed her dragon on the side of her neck. She leaned in and guided her dragon in a swift motion so she can circle and look for the mysterious visitor, although if she was being honest with herself she already knew who it could be.

“Ao kostagon dakogon yn ao kostagon’t ruaragon”*2

At that moment a dragon flew right next to her, spreading its humongous wings and almost hitting Ralla.

(Y/n) laughed at the failed attempt to scare her but was relieved to be in his presence, they exchanged a look and then she took it upon herself to guide them in the ground, somewhere that they wouldn’t be bothered or discovered by others.

As she gracefully landed Ralla close to the shore, her company followed. (Y/n) brushed her hair back in its place and fixed her dress once she came down of Rallas back.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

“I heard the news, I wanted to wish the happy couple a long and prosperous marriage, may you be blessed with many offsprings”

(Y/n) groaned at the sound of that word. Marriage and kids was in her plans but not now and definitely not with Jace.

She loved him but as a brother, he was a good and honourable man, any other girl would kill to have someone as handsome and as kind as Jace. To (y/n) it felt wrong, especially since her heart belongs to someone else, that “someone else” was now standing there and wished her well in a future that he is not a part of. It almost made her throw up at the mere thought of it.

(Y/n) turned her back along with closing her eyes in order to soothe herself and collect her thoughts, her hands felt abnormally cold as she clapped them together and brought them closer to her chest in a way of seeking comfort.

“Happy couple… far from it. As he gets to rise to the throne I am told that I should be more than satisfied with being the kings consort. I am the first child of Daemon Targaryen, brother of King Viserys. I should be the one to inherit after rhaenyra”

“Rhaenyra won’t even be the one to inherit the throne my dear, my father has barely opened his eyes and my mother won’t rest until she sees Aegon on that throne”

She scoffed loudly. As she turned to face Aemond who had walked and stood right behind her as a result he now could be face to face with (y/n). As the wind blew a few strands of her grazed her angry face, her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at him through almost shut eyes.

“Aegon?! That idiotic fool who drinks his days away in addition of harassing half of the servants in the palace? He could never be king, he would destroy everything my uncle has worked for”

She claimed in a higher tone than usual. Aemond could only smile at her as his hands reached for her upper arms, letting his fingertips graze the fabric of her dress up and down.

(Y/n) let her shoulders sink slightly also taking yet another deep breath at a desperate attempt to put her anger aside. The feeling of disrespect and unfairness filled her soul with such hatred that made her brain go on fire.

“How could they do this to me? Betroth me without my permission and deny me what’s rightfully mine? Rhaenyra is King Viserys daughter, he is my uncle”

“Life is unfair I’m afraid, don’t fret over the iron throne yet. What I cannot get pass is your new… soon to be husband”

That’s when (y/n) could finally snap out of her rage. Hearing the bitterness spew out of Aemond as he let the word barely get out of his mouth forced her to realise how difficult this is for him. She studied his facial expected soon, his lips closed shut as his jaw clenched tighter, even his shoulders were tense. Her hand reached up to graze his cheek for a few seconds with the back of her fingers.

“I promise you my love that I will only let that happen when I’m cold in my grave”

She whispered to him, a promise she was determined to keep. She took one more step and let the space between them become a thing of the past, (y/n) rested her head on his shoulder Aemond brushed his hand through her hair and took in her addicting scent in.

Everything about her was intoxicating to him, it was the only way he understood why his brother was drinking so much, if he could he would also drown in her presence, let her consume his life and die while under her influence, if he had any word in it he wished his grave to be her arms.

“You are the one that owns my heart, my fire”

She reassured him once again. Aemond and (y/n) had developed a relationship that grew stronger as time went on, they were careful in sneaking away from everyone else since they were very aware of how their families would react to their relationship, his mother although kind she was always clear of how displeased she was with (y/n)s wild temper, on the other side her father and Rhaenyra despised Aemond due to the altercation that had occurred years ago that costed him his eye. They were very lucky about their cover up since (y/n) had defended poor little lucerys and for years she had nothing but negative things to say for Aemond.

What they had forgotten to consider was that they were both at a time in their life that marriage was becoming something their families had to take into serious consideration.

“I understand why they betroth you to him, yet I cannot help than feel anger. I once again come second”

Second… second. (Y/n) snapped her head up at that word, Aemond was expecting her to be bothered by his words yet to his surprise she was smiling up at him. He looked at her with a questionable look since he could not understand why she was pleased with the situation.

“What if we tell them that Jacaerys came second?”

“I’m afraid that I do not understand you dearest”

“I give you my maidens head, by morning we announce it to my father… together”

Aemonds lips curved into a smile, joining (y/n) on her mast plan idea. He had never dreamed of that possibility, well he had dreamed of it and craved it many times but would never dare to suggest it, he wanted (y/n) to come to him. Aemonds hands cupped her cheeks before he crashed his lips with hers moreover deepening to a passionate kiss.

“You are an amazing woman”

He complimented her in between kisses as he was finally allowed to do what he had only dreamed of. She giggled at his eagerness and responded with the same amount of lust radiating of her body as her arms were wrapping around his neck pulling him closer that they could physically be.

He laid her down carefully, making sure she was comfortable before his hungry self ripped of the clothes of her body, their eyes full of passion as their bodies followed the urge they had ignored for so long.

“Take care of me my love”

She whispered in his ear as he supported himself on top of her, her hair becoming one of other the dirt and her naked skin feeling the breeze and raised goosebumps.

Getting lost in each others arms and their bodies working together, it was a pretty chilly night however they managed to sweat as they to one another tightly. Their sounds could be mistaken for animals and the aggression mixed with the tenderness was something that would make the most filthy person blush. (Y/n) could not let him go even after their passion shimmered down, they stayed intertwined until the sun rose the first rays caressed their bodies, Aemond admired how her skin blisters under the sunlight during the early hours

“My treasure”

He called for her before hugging her once again, (y/n) was overwhelmed by pleasure and joy that made her almost forget that the guards are going to start looking for her soon and that’s if they hadn’t done it yet.

“We need to move Aemond, it’s time for us to face the world”

“Together, from this point on we do all of it together. I swear to you that you will never be alone”

*1 “we are not alone Ralla”

*2 “you can run but you can’t hide”

#house of the dragon aemond #aemond smut #aemond x y/n #aemond x you #aemond imagine #aemond fanfiction #aemond the kinslayer #aemond fic #aemond stannies #prince aemond #aemond targaryen #house of the dragon #aemond targaryen imagine #aemond targaryen x fem!oc #aemond targaryen x reader #aemond targaryen x you #house of the dragon imagine #hotd x reader #hotd #hotd aemond #hotd fanfic #hotd season 1 #aemond fluff #house of the dragon x reader

[kingcunny]

the helaena/jace marriage offer *was* a political move, and a pretty smart one by rhaenyra too. the whole argument that helaena would be in danger because jace is a bastard is kinda silly to me, because the only people who cared about that were the greens. the velaryon boys legal father and both grandfathers have already accepted them as legitimate. the only people that would be putting helaena in danger would be her own family. if she were married to jace it would force them to accept not only rhaenyra as queen, but jace as king after her. (also shoring up jaces claim, as the next queen would be viserys daughter, and the queen consort after that… also his daughter) it would force alicent to stop her scheming against both of them, unless she wanted to put her daughter in danger. (as compensation it would also put her blood on the throne, just through her grandchildren vs her children. but thats not what alicent wants) alicent *knows* this is what rhaenyra is trying to do and thats why, along with her own bastardphobia and unwillingness to give up control over her daughter, she refuses the offer. she married the king it should be *her children* on the throne.

in the book, laena and rhaenyra betroth their children together when theyre much younger because *They* were in love. and what do you do when you love someone but cant legally marry them? well you marry your kids together. of course.

but since the show cut their relationship they had to also change the reasons behind the baela/jace and rhaena/luke marriages. and made them another political arrangement, and again not a bad move by rhaenyra! the argument that rhaenyra ‘stole’ baela/rhaenas birthright is, again kinda silly since the driftmark throne never ‘belonged’ to them anyway? even though laena was the eldest, it was going to go to laenor, since he was corlys firstborn son, and after laenor, luke (since jace would be king). it was only rhaenys that was trying to convince corlys to name laenas children over luke, since they were, by blood, related to him. rhaenys feeling like her daughter was getting passed over just like she was. vaemond wasnt arguing for baela or rhaena to be named, he was arguing for *himself*, and his children after him. rhaenyras marriage offer to rhaenys soothes her, because while it might not be laena or her children themselves, laenas line will continue on both the iron and driftmark thrones. it also shores up lukes claim to the driftmark throne, because even if he isnt a “true” velaryon, rhaena is. and their children will be. the driftmark throne stays within the velaryon family, keeping everyone happy. (minus vaemond)

#anon asked me about my opinions about these marriages but included a link to someone elses #tumblr post and i didnt wanna post that cause it felt mean #but here it is anyway #like yes helaena could be considered a hostage in this instance but baela and rhaena? #corlys was already backing rhaenyra #the marriage offer was only for rhaenys #rhaenyra targaryen #jacaerys velaryon #lucerys velaryon #dragon twin baela #dragon twin rhaena #helaena targaryen #alicent hightower #rhaenys tqwnw #asoiaf #hotd #my posts

[nashiriel]

Just reading the Black and Greens’ reactions to baby Luke claiming the Cannibal…I honestly could read 100 chapters, because can you imagine how the Greens would panic when Rhaenyra turns up in King’s Landing like “please meet my most loyal supporter and his dragon?” It would be truly heartwarming stuff.

And I would love to see the Rhaenys/Luke bonding. I wonder if her visibly getting on with Luke more would help head off Vaemond’s challenge (though he’d have to be pretty bold to be challenge Luke’s claim in the hall, knowing the Cannibal is waiting outside).

I am once again asking you to please, please forgive me for taking so long to get back to you. I am trying to work my way through my inbox, I swear!

But in the festive spirit…it’s not 100 chapters, but I hope you enjoy the below snippet from that AU! A very merry Christmas to you (if you celebrate!)

It is Prince Daemon who greets them as they dismount, teeth flashing in the curve of that cocksure grin that Rhaenys remembers of old. There is still much of that boy left to him, she sees. No grey dulls the silver of his hair, and the lines on his face are softened now, smoothed by contentment as he stands amongst the smoke and skies of his new consort’s domain.  

Marriage to the Princess of Dragonstone suits him well, it seems. Fury burns Rhaenys’ throat, mingled as it is still with bitter grief. 

Three moons. Her children, her grandson, have been dead for three moons.

“My brave girl,” Daemon beams as soon as Baela’s feet have touched the ground, sweeping her into his arms with an exuberance that sends her laughter pealing through the air. “Your sister has missed you.”

“How is she?” Baela demands excitedly, wriggling like a pup in his embrace. “How are her burns? Has she flown-”

“She is resting,” her father laughs, pride clear on his face. Laena’s letters had not spoken of such when she wrote of he and Rhaena in that last, lingering year.

“The maesters say the burn is healing well, sweetling, and she asks me every day when the dragonkeepers will let her back down to the beach. She says that she can still thread her needle, and that a set of reins are nothing compared to that.” 

His eyes find Rhaenys’ then, amused. “You would be proud of how brave she has been, cousin.”

“I have always been proud of Rhaena,” Rhaenys says curtly. She has not come here to bandy pleasantries, not when Rhaenyra’s letters had made clear through their increasing urgent pleas that there was a matter that duty could not let her ignore. “As proud as I was of her mother. The day is short, Daemon. Where is the boy?”

The mirth falls away from Daemon’s face.

The valley that Caraxes and Meleys alight upon is not quite at the foot at the Dragonmont, but it is close enough that the restless murmurs of the volcano as it turns in its sleep rumble through the air. In comparison, the dragon whose coiled bulk blots out the sky and rocks from her sight is unsettlingly quiet, its scales a motionless dark sheen over the ground like oil laid over placid water. 

Rhaenys’ steps do not falter, even as Caraxes’ whistle shrieks in the air above her. Meleys had loomed larger in her girlhood’s eyes as she sang to her in the dark of the Dragonpit. She had seen Balerion’s wings blacken the sky, a majesty that even age could not rob from the greatest glory their blood had ever known. What is this shadow that she should fear it, no matter large it hulks with its butcher’s reek? 

Rhaenys might think it asleep were it not for the gleaming eye that watches her approach, gaze green and hungry as wildfire. With a sharp intake of breath, she sees the small form nestled against its black talons, not even half the size of those knife-like curves. As Rhaenys draws closer, he lifts his head from where it was bent over the long object clutched in his fist, dark eyes wide with astonishment. 

“Grandmother?”

“Lucerys,” Rhaenys says evenly, refusing to allow herself a flinch as a growl splits the air, loud enough to shake the stones from Dragonstone’s parapets. A black tail lashes the air in a brutal snap, heavy enough to cleave a castle wall in two, as the dragon coils itself closer still around Luke, teeth glittering in evident warning. It could crush him as easily as Rhaenys could an ant beneath her heel; Meleys bellows behind her as the whip uncoils in Rhaenys’ hand. 

“Cannibal!” a voice pipes up behind the ripple of the dragon’s wing, high-pitched and aggrieved rather than terror-stricken. “No! I said no!”

Ash lies thick as snow on the ground. Feet away, a cracked thigh bone protrudes from it, flesh brittled black and crumbling where it still clings. There had been guards watching over their play when the Cannibal’s shadow suddenly descended upon the sands, Rhaena had written in a wobbling sprawl so unlike her normal perfect lettering. With spears and trident, they had tried to draw him off. The precious seconds before they were charred to sprawls of greased meat might have meant the difference between life and death to her grandchildren, at least. 

“Easy,” Daemon calls down, his voice strong and stern as winter even as Caraxes’ wings beat the air. “It is your worry feeding his, Lucerys. Calm yourself.”

“I am calm!” comes the indignant squeal, shrill with a fury that Daemon’s words alone cannot have provoked. The Cannibal’s muscles go taut as a bowstring, the dark curve of his jaw shifting as a noise like a mountain cracking apart rumbles between his teeth. 

This one will not be brought to bay by a whip, nor soothed with the lullabies of Old Valyria. Rhaenys sees that clearly in this moment, that and the reason why Daemon has proved insufficient to manage this.

In all the history of Dragonstone, there is only one thing that has held any sway over the Cannibal, and - still to Rhaenys’ utter disbelief - it is the voice of the child who sits tear-stained and trembling in sullen rancour as the Cannibal looms above him, stretching up and up into the darkened sky. 

“The Conqueror himself never hatched a dragon,” she had overheard Laenor soothe Lucerys once in a shadowed corner of High Tide, cradling him close as they watched Vermax playfully char the meat Jace was throwing in the air.

“You’ll claim a mount one day. Like your aunt, like your grandmother. And I promise, it will be a dragon worthy of you.”

The Cannibal. How by all the seven hells had the boy ever managed to even attract his attention, never mind claim him?

“Lucerys,” she says again, sharp and swift as her whip.

He flinches at her tone, but Rhaenys does not care; the time for coddling him was before the gods in their folly put the Cannibal in the hands of a child.

“None are here to harm you or him, child, and you must make him know that. Remember all that the dragonkeepers have taught you. Breathe deep, and speak loud and clear. Lykiri-”

“I’m trying,” Lucerys says plaintively, one hand scrubbing at his dirtied face. She wonders how long he has been here, how often the Cannibal is pleased to let the human he has bonded with leave his sight. “He doesn’t know what they mean, he won’t listen-”

“Do you think any dragon is born knowing them? The words alone do not have meaning; they are there to clarify your intent, so that he does not blindly follow what you feel instead. You have claimed him, Lucerys. He will listen, but only if you are strong enough to ensure that he understands.”

There comes a choked sob, almost lost in the sulphurous blast of hot breath rolling across Rhaenys’ skin as the Cannibal turns its great head towards her. She does not break its gaze as she coaxes Lucerys to breathe deep, to gather himself together (a memory comes unbidden, of the song she sang to Laenor as a child to soothe his night terrors, and she bites down against another unexpected welt of grief).

Eventually, mercifully, the dragon settles, though covetousness still burns in those eyes like the distant stars as he watches Lucerys leave his shadow to come forth to her.

“Prince Daemon is right,” she says after the Rogue Prince has taken his leave at her sharp gesture.

“That dragon is a part of you now, child, and his rage is strong enough without you feeding it. If you cannot control yourself, what chance do you think you’ll have commanding him? If he tells you to calm yourself, listen.”

“Why? He’s not my father,” comes a furious sniffle, those dark eyes blinking ferociously in a bid to hold back tears. For the first time, she sees what it is he is holding so tightly; a broken spear, the snapped shaft still bearing the remnants of the crest of Dragonstone’s royal guards. 

“He is not,” Rhaenys says tightly; that much, at least, they can agree on. “but when it comes to dragons, you’d be a fool not to heed him, boy. And if you’re a fool with this beast, you won’t live long enough to know it. He is dangerous, Lucerys. You should never have gone to him.”

”But I didn’t,” the child says, lip quivering. “It was the Grey Ghost we went to the beach for, me and Rhaena. We brought fish-”

“Fish,” Rhaenys repeats coldly.

“From the kitchens, lots of them. Cook gave some to us every day; he’d thought we’d found some kittens. We had to hide behind the rocks the first few times; he only came out when he thought no one was there. We had to get him used to Rhaena’s smell. Aemond thought it’d work-”

He stops, small face suddenly stricken. 

Well. Rhaenys had never imagined that the queen’s and Rhaenyra’s dragonless children might once have felt close enough to venture ideas of luring a mount between them. It matters not now, she supposes. If ever there was ever friendship between the two, it died that night on Driftmark. Rhaenys had not needed to see the poisonous glare levelled at Luke from Prince Aemond’s remaining eye as she thrust him safely beyond Queen Alicent’s reach behind her to know that. 

“I didn’t mean for the Cannibal to come,” Luke insists, and an odd look comes across his face, almost hopeful as he looks back over his shoulder to where the dragon watches him with that unblinking, terrible gaze.

“But he must’ve been meant to find us. He’d never come to that beach before, the dragonkeepers said. It was Father, it must’ve been. He heard my prayers and sent him to me.”

No, Rhaenys thinks, and does not know if it is cruelty or kindness that keeps the words from her tongue. If my son could have sent you a dragon, he would have brought you his own Seasmoke.

“So he fell upon the Grey Ghost,” she says instead. “How did that lead you to claiming him? You could have been killed. Rhaena could have been killed. What were you thinking, boy, to get so close?”

“Meraxes,” Luke mumbles, so low Rhaenys thinks she misheard him. She bends closer, acutely aware of the shadow rumbling in warning before her.

”What did you say?”

“Jace told me,” Luke says, fidgeting; behind him, the Cannibal’s tail ripples black, spikes flexing with the motion.

“The only way a man can stop a dragon. Grey Ghost was trying to crawl away, but he couldn’t…he couldn’t move, and Rhaena was screaming, and…the Cannibal had to drag him back with his teeth with his head bent down like that, and I thought if I threw it-” 

The spearhead gleams sharp as dragon teeth. Luke looks up at her, pleading, his confession coming in a quavering whisper.

“I tried to get his eye.”

#house of the dragon #lucerys velaryon #cannibal the dragon #carrion #lucemond #asks #I really need to come up with a name for this AU #rhaenys targaryen #The Cannibal and Grey Ghost have been shoved into a ‘This is Our Get Along Shirt’ for the holidays #Luckily once they arrive at King’s Landing they discover the true meaning of Christmas is teaming up together to bully Sunfyre

[mauvewalker]

My thoughts on Vaemond is that he had valid concerns and I think people have to understand that wanting to have power is not necessarily a bad thing. At the end of the day it’s pretty obvious visually that those 3 strong boys are bastards and are not of velaryon blood. It’s just an insult to house Velaryon. Regardless whether Laenor accepted them due to fertility isues/lack of trying etc, from an outside perspective of the nobility in a medieval setting she has cuckolded her husband. Imagine if Rhaenrya was not a crown princess from the royal line, I don’t think another lady would have got away with it or Corlys’s avid support as he is being ambitious/power hungry in wanting to get his blood/name on the iron throne. So when obviously Laenor/Rhaenrya didn’t do their duty in having legitimate children. I wonder if he didn’t kick up a fuss because he couldn’t question/actively go against the king daughter without losing his head & causing dissent. Also, their families were very intertwined with Daemon being married to laena at the time. Plus, he knew the king would favour her, so had to be hush about it due to these factors. That would be logical thinking the show could have given to Corlys but Rhaenrya would be portrayed as negatively abusing her station/power & the show couldn’t ever possibly have that for her 🙄.

That line for corlys reason is stupid in my opinion that “history remembers names not blood” when the strong boys have their legitimacy questioned/rumoured so heavily that will be attached to them within history- whilst obviously not confirmed it will still be talked about. Also, whilst corlys may be head of his house he cannot willing decide his heir knowing full well they do not have a blood claim to it & break succession law. He is the head and should think of & has the responsibility of the well-being of the entire family & not deprive those with a legal blood claim due to his desire for his own ‘legacy’. 

Rhaenrya was happily in all essence to ‘usurp’ driftmark throne for her son because of the power it will bring Luke- a second son who in any other setting would inherit nothing. So she is being power hungry herself here on behalf of her family. Abusing her father & Corlys’s power as accomplices for this farce. The extended velaryons have a right to be affronted/worried by this. So vaemond whilst corlys was in the 50/50 whether he would live & the king not being well enough to handle his duties, both who would not be impartial in this matter, saw an opportunity and took it. 

The argument that he should argue for Baela or rhaena to inherit, which I agree 100% they should have been corlys rightful heirs due to being legitimate daughters of laena- who was I believe is corlys first child in the show, but, corlys due to his own misogyny & ambitions chose to bypass them. Funny, I don’t see a lot of people criticise corlys for this (Rhaenys even pleaded for Laena’s daughters to be named but corlys denied her). Thus, Rhaenrya only decides to offer marriage pacts to her step daughters when she’s backed in a corner & realises that Rhaenys was more than likely going to not back her & claim for Baela. As a ‘fix-it’ so Baela get promoted to queen consort (more powerful position than lady of driftmark) & Rhaenys knowing her husband ambitions & desires for getting his blood on the throne will get his wishes through future grandchild. Maybe this time the plan will work out for them if Baela doesn’t die from childbirth & have a stillborn that is. So Rhaenys ends up backing Rhaenrya with this deal. 

However, arguably Rhaena is short changed of her birth right & demoted to being lady wife of driftmark (no power as Luke is the decision maker & can overrule/go against her- we saw this with Corlys/Rhaenys). A lot of people say it doesn’t matter if Luke is lord because their kids will end up having velaryon blood. Again, that is only the case if they successfully have a child together. The show has already shown the difficulties/mortality of mother & child during labour. What if scenario if rhaena dies in childbirth alongside the babe. Luke is then free to remarry whomever/lady of another family & what will the extended velaryons do then??? 

I think people have to understand that blood is important in this society as why else is kinslaying so accursed because it offers protection. Luke has no blood kinship or have any relations/interactions or living at driftmark towards the extended velaryons & with his mothers/stepfather actions have proved that they can be harmed/killed. Also, this child Luke has already shown to having a lack of remorse in his dealings with Aemond (his blood kin) & others, seems to be a-okay with his parents actions in people being killed over it & stealing his step sister Baela’s claim to Driftmark. Luke growing up under Daemrya’s tutelage doesn’t bode well for the extended Velaryons.

Back to vaemond, another reason he is thinking to fight for his claim is that corlys himself bypassed his legitimate granddaughters, thus, showing that the current head of house velaryon Corlys does have a preference for male relatives to inherit . Also, in the books Corlys got his bastard son/grandson?? legitimised to inherit driftmark during the war, again bypassing his granddaughters. So, as Corlys is currently out of commission, Vaemond by all rights is logical to push himself as he is the next living legitimate blood related male. He took his chance but alas was thwarted by viserys arrival & then Rhaenys, whether she had decided to agree prior to Viserys sitting down, smartly knowing how things would play in Rhaenrya favour declared aloud (so that Rhaenrya had to uphold the bargain) the marriage pact deals to the court & sided with her. At this point, he should have been smart & backed off but was goaded & lost his life for it. 

#Hotd #house of the dragon #hotd critical #vaemond velaryon #anti team black #anti corlys velaryon #anti rhaenys targaryen #anti daemon targaryen #anti rhaenyra targaryen #anti lucerys strong #anti lucerys velaryon #anti viserys i targaryen

[peachblossom-odyssey]

I have such a thing for DinLuke where Luke is a Sith. The dynamic is so good, this dangerous mandalorian who doesn’t know he’s in Star Wars and this pretty blond Sith who becomes obsessed with him. Din looking at Luke in a black cloak and yellow eyes and a red lightsaber and genuinely asking “Are you a Jedi?”. Luke the literal son of galactic boogieman Darth Vader casually dropping that fact to try and scare Din only for Din to blankly say “I don’t know who that is.” Luke realizing he desires Din carnally and throwing himself into seducing him only for Din to consistently wave him off thinking he’s just like that with everyone. “Leia. Leia I told him his son was strong in the Force and he said he didn’t know what the Force was. Leia, I need him so bad, on god I need him so bad.”

“Leia I offered to make him my consort and make his son a prince and give him every treasure in my vault and slaughter anyone who even looked at him wrong, and you know what, Leia? I don’t think he believes me when I say I’m the galactic prince. I think he genuinely thinks I’m just some weirdo following him around. Leia, I’ve never wanted a man so badly in my life.”

“Leia, I tried kidnapping him again but he escaped again, I don’t know how he does it but it’s really-wait, where are you going, I haven’t told you about how danger prone he is! Leia!”

Luke Skywalker the Imperial Prince, terror of the galaxy. Luke Skywalker the whiny little brother to Leia Organa, her dear little idiot. Luke Skywalker the weird guy that Din keeps running into, clingy and touchy and way too intense but at least he’s cute

#sith luke skywalker #dinluke #luke skywalker #din djarin #the mandalorian #star wars

[maulthots]

Rots novelization LAST ONE!!! I have a lot to say.

Cunty.

Obi wan and Yoda are sneaking into coruscant and they get stopped, at which point obi wan is like, please look at my Jedi baby and the guard says, that's the ugliest fucking baby I've ever seen, and then yoda (the baby) kills him. Like alright.

I cannot stress enough how much sheev just utters the phrase "we are one nation, indivisible" right before he creates the empire.

Padme is the one who gets bail organa and Mon mothma to vote for the emperor so they don't get arrested and executed. Crazy. And then she's like, I don't think I'm going to live that long.

Girl.

Edgy king

He's hunting the separatist leaders and they're like, sheev promised us we'd be left in peace and Vader is like, no haha he said you'd be left in pieces lol XD he is soooooo funny

Sheev was at the order 66 Jedi temple thing. I mean I guess obviously he was but I just never thought about it. I wonder, sorry, if he was like sexually gratified by watching his attack dog get to work, sorry. "He purred like a contented rancor" so I guess maybe yes.

Obi wan said he should have let the zabrak kill him on naboo SO TRUE KING

The baby really does kill all those separatists and then immediately begins to plot killing sidious. The rule of two is not even like a doctrine. It's just inevitable.

He has to reassemble himself into Anakin Skywalker before he meets padme again. Love that. Obsessed. Put on that mask baby boy

"lord Vader gets such a thrill from killing people who care for him" 😵‍💫

Anakin is like, let palpatine do the dirty work. Girl, you got a big storm coming.

Me when I see my fatherbrothermentorlover

He gave obi wan a chance to walk away. Feeling some kind of way about it.

Dumbest series of lines cut from the novel. Obi wan says that only the sith deal in absolutes and then mercifully does NOT follow up with the chancellor is evil.

Omgggg r2 is trying to rescue padme wah he's literally her droid!

The sith spent the last thousand years evolving while the Jedi spent the last thousand years sitting pretty in their temple, and that's why Yoda lost. He lost like a hundred years before he was born.

The sound I made out loud....

Oh shit obi wan used the force to fuck with Anakin's hand, got his lightsaber, and got bodied anyway.

Sheev has called Yoda, and I quote, a little green freak twice in a quarter of a page.

Anakin is holding both of obi wans wrists so hard they're going to break I repeat Anakin is holding both of obi wans wrists I repeat Anakin is hol

Kermit.

I am going to hurl

Anakin Designed His Lightsaber Based On Obi Wan's.

It would be a mercy to kill him and he was not feeling merciful????

Sidious picked him right up off the sand. Yoked.

Obi wan is like let's put luke on tatooine. Anakin survived it. Girl and we all know how that turned out.

Hurg

Gorl.

Gorlllll.

Anyway, bail organa is a prince consort. Important.

#cathy watches star wars #long post

[bbygirl-aemond]

i don't think baela and rhaena really apply. they're going to be married to jace and luke so they'll still have everything they would otherwise.

(i'm using this ask as an excuse to rant about the showrunners making house velaryon black given what happens to them and also about how baela and rhaena's situation is still very unfair)

i think making house velaryon black is another decision the showrunners didn't think through properly. i think it was entirely for the diversity aspect, since they'd shot themselves in the foot by making all of the houses in game of thrones white and had very rightfully received criticism for doing so. the velaryons are one of the only houses that aren't depicted in game of thrones, so were one of the only options for doing this. i was even pretty happy at first, because the velaryons are a very powerful and ancient house, and the only house aside from the targaryens to ever wield dragons.

but i do think it casts some aspects of team black in a more unfortunate light. here's where baela and rhaena come in. let me make it clear, i understand that after her sons are born rhaenyra has no choice but to present them as legitimate out of very warranted fear for their safety. so i'm not saying that rhaenyra has malevolently done this, nor that after the boys' birth she had any real choice, but...

the optics of setting aside two black women's rightful inheritance in order to uplift white men is not exactly great. it's certainly not groundbreaking. especially when you consider that black characters have such little power overall- driftmark is really the only thing black nobles have to their name in westeros. and now they are being expected to pass it along to white men. the fact that future generations will be mixed doesn't make it much better- in fact i honestly think it's worse. the white targaryens aren't just colonizing one generation out of hundreds that rules driftmark; they're colonizing the entire subsequent velaryon bloodline. you know, the same house whose black members are vocally unhappy with this colonization- that is, until the colonizers kill them or cut out their tongues (hello, vaemond + silent five). i just think it makes the velaryons' anger at the whole situation seem a little more... legitimate? at least through modern eyes, it's not just that the boys are born out of wedlock (though obviously, hello misogyny and conservatism, that's a big part of it). it's also that the boys, by virtue of being out of wedlock, straight up do not possess any of the black heritage that makes house velaryon unique. (if they'd made harwin black as well, i think it could have solved this issue btw)

and i know that baela and rhaena are being married to jace and luke, but i need y'all to understand that this is not the same as them holding their power by their own right. every single bit of wealth, power, or property that these girls will ever have, save for their dragons, will not actually belong to them. it will all legally belong to their husbands. any decision-making power they have, anything they buy or do, will only ever be because their husbands are permitting them. their agency and their strength will be entirely contingent on the white men in their lives. jace and luke have inherent titles and power- they are princes by birth. baela and rhaena aren't princesses, or even ladies. the only political title they will ever hold will be as a consort- as an extension of the more powerful white man they are married to.

i very much don't think that jace and luke have any intention of curtailing these girls' power. but that doesn't change the fact that it won't truly be theirs. it's also unrealistic to expect that couples will go their entire lives without ever once disagreeing on something. the moment they do, the power imbalance will become clear. additionally, the show has set a precedent of those in power within the targaryen family in particular unintentionally harming others with ignorance of how their power allows them to steamroll over others' agency. viserys does not recognize the power he has over alicent due to his position, and she suffers for it. rhaenyra does not recognize the power she has over criston due to her position, and he suffers for it. a lack of intentional abuse does not preclude these boys from accidentally imposing their will on others.

a good real-world comparison for baela and rhaena's situation would be that of a stay-at-home mom who has staked her entire life on her husband's goodwill. she has no degree and no job. she has no money or property. her house and everything inside it belongs to her husband, not her. and even if her husband never leaves her, even if in some false universe with no conflict he never even disagrees with her, it does not change the fact that her livelihood is forever dependent on his permission. this is a power imbalance that must, by virtue of its significance, seep its way into their relationship. it's why relationships between a boss and employee are illegal in the united states- because it's understood that this power imbalance absolutely does have a compromising affect on the less powerful person's consent and agency.

anyways, like i said, i don't have good answers here for how this situation might be resolved, and i don't think that this move condemns rhaenyra as some intentional thief of black women's inheritance. she was choosing between baela and rhaena's agency and her children's lives, after all. but i know that making baela and rhaena black, and jace and luke white, makes the unfairness of baela and rhaena being sidelined as a result of powerful white people's actions sting even more. like yay, more black women whose entire life is dependent on a white man's goodwill and whose plot relevance is solely tied to their ability to benefit said white men's reputations. it's just not revolutionary in the way the showrunners seem to think it is. it's old, and it's tired, and i'm tired of it.

i really hope they'll do more with baela and rhaena's storylines and find some way to give them power in their own right, but i'm afraid it will never trump the agency that has already been taken from them and gifted to white men. and, given the way most of the girls' dialogue has been cut so far in favor of other characters... i'm not optimistic.

#ask #asks #answered #baela targaryen #rhaena targaryen #baela #rhaena #jacaerys velaryon #jacaerys strong #jace velaryon #jace strong #lucerys velaryon #lucerys strong #luke velaryon #luke strong #house velaryon #house targaryen #hotd #house of the dragon #show

[phykios]

If I Were A Blackbird, part 12 [co-written with @darkmagyk] [read on ao3]

His Majesty King Frederick III of Sweden, dispensing entirely with etiquette, noisily slurped up a noodle, and then picked out a bit of chicken with his fork, before grasping it between his fingers and popping it in his mouth. “Mm,” he hummed. “Delicious. Nothing like a classic American alfredo.” 

Annabeth, Crown Princess and Duchess of Södermanland, pushed her pasta around the plate, stomach too tight to eat. 

Over the last few years, dinner with her father had become less and less of a frightening affair. Which was ironic, because in that time he’d gone from being a regular old prince, to the King. With all the divine power and magical rituals that went along with it. 

It helped that the Princess Consort rarely joined them anymore, a decision Annabeth was pretty sure traced to the fact that she was the Princess Consort, and not the Queen. And dinners that had once felt like they took place between Princess Annabeth and Prince Frederick now feel more like they are just between Annabeth and her dad. 

She liked that. 

But it didn’t stop her from stress-knitting a sweater for Percie on her flight all morning and afternoon after being informed via calendar notification that she had been invited to dinner with the king upon her arrival back home. 

The sweater was dark blue and had the Olympic rings, matching the one she had knitted for her dog’s namesake. And also the one she was making for herself. 

“Guido really outdid himself with dinner tonight,” he said, dabbing at his face with a napkin, “but it still isn’t as good as the donut you brought me from New York.” He grinned at her. “We really do need to get them to build a Dunkin here.”

She couldn’t help but grin back. “Maybe that will be my first act as queen.”

He laughed. “A good use of your divine rights, but I am not sure I want to wait that long. Do you think I would be able to get a Dunkaccino in Fólkvangr?”

“Well you certainly seem sure of your future.”

“One must be prepared to dream big,” he said, “particularly when one is a king.” 

“An iced coffee and a warrior's death,” she laughed. “What more could a king ask for?”

His smile dropped, face hardening, and the very air seemed to grow… uncomfortable. He considered her, and carefully put down his fork. “Perhaps nothing more a king could want. But… as a father…” 

A chill went down her spine. Oh gods. Oh no. Anything but this. 

And neither, apparently, was her dad, who was suddenly very interested in the embroidery on his napkin. “...Is Percy ready for Athens?” 

Fuck fuck fuck fuck. This was what he was playing at? “Yeah, just a few more weeks. He’s excited.” 

“Any chance he’s going to stop by here, on his way?”

“Um, no, he’s got his normal ritual at home, and then he’s heading over with team USA.” She frowned. “Why?”

“Well,” he said, with a significant look, “it will have been four years, at the Olympics, won’t it? And I was wondering when we were going to be seeing him on a more… permanent basis.” 

That brought her up a little short. Percy was around for almost all major holidays now, unless it conflicted with a race. And even then, sometimes he skipped them. What could he possibly want Percy to come back to Sweden for? He’d been here a month for National Day and Midsummer, and the two of them seemed to be getting on fine. 

And as for permanent… he’d more or less abandoned Luke’s apartment in New York City as anything more than a pretense. It was still on his driver's license, but she was pretty sure none of his stuff was there anymore. Two weeks ago, when he’d been in New York for a Good Morning America appearance, he’d stayed over at hers, despite her still being in Sweden at the time. And that wasn’t a rare occurrence. He’d been calling it their apartment for about a year now, and he didn’t even look sheepish about it anymore. 

Percy was a permanent fixture in her life. She was determined to make it so. “It feels pretty permanent to me,” she said, quietly. 

He looked at her, and she looked back, for several long, long seconds, before he sighed and looked away. “Are you really going to demand I say it, dear?”

She sucked in a breath. And here it was. The other shoe, come to drop in between her and Percy. And he had seemed so perfect on paper: he loved her, he was getting good enough at Swedish that he didn’t ask her to translate anything at official dinners anymore, he looked great in a suit by her side, he could smile and wave with the best of them, and he seemed okay with the prospect of that being the rest of his life. So, what problem had been dug up? What was going to prevent Princess Annabeth from being with her prince charming?

“Say what?” If he had a problem with her choice of partner, if he had spent years getting buddy buddy with her, only to crush her dreams worse than before, then he had damn well better spell it out to her face. 

He had to know that Percy was it for her. He wasn’t that oblivious. So, it was all coming back around. He’d asked her, four of five years ago, if she intended to abdicate for true love. He was calling that marker in now. 

He was going to make her choose between Percy and her crown. 

No, worse, he was going to make her choose between Percy and letting her stepmother win. 

“When are you and Percy getting married?” 

And there it was. The ultimatum.

“Well…” Wait. “What?” 

He shrugged again, a touch self-conscious. “Well, dear, you are almost thirty, and while you are certainly young, I know you’ve talked about your plans for your future. And your… desire to secure succession for your descendants.” She felt herself go red at that statement. Though it wasn’t untrue, clearly. “I was just wondering if… now might be the proper time.” 

Well, that wasn’t the other shoe, that was a whole damn Louboutin store. “You want me to make Percy my consort?”

He frowned. “I thought you wanted to make Percy your consort.” 

“I do,” she said, “I do.” By all the gods, Greek and Norse and whatever the hell else there might be out there, did she want to.

“Well then, of course I want you to marry him. I like Percy. You know that.” Which she did. It wasn’t like he had hidden it. “And more than that, I know you love him. And he loves you, and what’s more, accepts you. Accepts all the wonderful parts of you.”

Oh, so that was the other shoe. She couldn’t even properly appreciate her father’s explicit and enthusiastic support of Percy, of her choices, of what she wanted to happen more than anything in the world. 

She groaned and put her head in her hands. 

“Dear, what’s wrong?”

“He hasn’t,” she mumbled into her palms. 

“What?”

“He hasn’t accepted all the parts of me.”

“Oh.” It was silent for a long moment, save for her father fiddling with his napkin. “That’s… Are you sure, dear?”

She looked up. “Huh?”

“Well, I only ask because he’s been such a good sport at dinners. And he was absolutely wonderful during the funeral and the coronation and with everything. I… is he really not on board with royal life?”

“No, no, he’s–we’ve talked about that. Quite a lot. He’s a better sport about,” she waved a hand, “all of that than I deserve.” 

That part was fine. It was just everything else that was the problem. 

“You deserve everything, dear,” her father said without a second's hesitation. “He is, as you say, a good sport, but I do not for a second think that he would be if it wasn’t for you. Trust me when I say, I know the difference between someone who loves the prince versus someone who loves the man. Percy loves you. I promise you dear. I promise you he does.” He took her hand across the table. “Nearly as much as I do.”  

And wasn’t that something. She could stop the feel of tears pooling in her eyes. Her father was staring at her, earnestness plain on his face. She had thought, not two minutes ago, that he meant to separate her from Percy, and he was proclaiming Percy’s love for her. 

Her father, her dad, the King of Sweden, wanted her to be happy and loved and the Queen. And he wanted her to marry Percy Jackson to make it happen. She blinked back the tears as best she could. 

It was not a totally successful endeavor. 

“I haven’t told Percy,” she said, finally, her voice barely more than a whisper. And, she realized a second later, not in Swedish. Or English. Nor her grade school French. She was speaking in ancient Greek. Wasn’t she lucky that Perseus’ name fit so well in this cursed language. “I haven’t told him about my mother, or about our ancestry, or any of it.” 

“I see,” her father said, his Greek not as natural as her, but clear and precise from many years of practice. “Well, do you think that will be a problem?”

“Of course it will be a problem. I have to tell him the gods are real. Like, the Greek gods. And the Norse gods!” 

He waved a hand. “He’s a classicist, I am sure he’s got passing familiarity with it. It isn’t as though you’ll need to worry about him not having paid attention to that lesson in school. I’m sure it will go fine.” 

“You really think so?” she asked, and for a split second, it was like she was back in that diner in California. Trusting her father to soothe her fears, and make it all better. 

He took a moment to gather his thoughts, squeezing her hand. “I think… I think he loves you, and that, to be honest, a royal life is a much bigger burden for him to have to deal with than marrying a demigod. It isn’t as though hydras will be attacking him during his calc finals. I do believe your mother to be far more formidable than the Riksdag, and significantly more beautiful,” he couldn’t help but add, and Annabeth chuckled. “But she could have no objection to Percy, nor your marriage, compared to any other mortal man. But the Riksdag will always want to butt in. He has put up with much worse than your mother. Or our Frey ancestors. And I believe he has shown he will continue to do so. This, all of this, is just a matter of belief. Nothing Percy has said has suggested to me that he’s particularly religious, anyway.” 

“No,” Annabeth conceded, “No, he’s not.” 

“So, I am sure–I am positive–that all will be well.” 

She swallowed a few times, just a little afraid to speak the hope in her chest. To give life to the little hearth in her heart. “I… I think he’ll be alright with it. If I can get him to believe. I think he’ll be able to accept it. To accept me.” 

Her father beamed at her. “And when are you going to tell him?”

“Soon,” she said. “I was thinking maybe in Athens, since we’ll be there together.” 

Her father let out a laugh. “Has this always been your plan?”

“Maybe not always,” she chuckled, “but… I have been thinking about it for a while. A couple of months, at least.” Or maybe a couple of years. “He really wants to get a gold in the Olympics. And this year, he’s the favorite.” 

“There is a long history of royalty competing in the Olympics, all over Europe. I think he could continue, if he doesn’t manage it this time. Though I am told his odds are very good.” 

She smiled at him. It was such a thoughtful thing to say. “He wants to win for team USA,” she said, “and I can’t really begrudge him that if he turns around and immediately devotes his life to Sweden, now can?” 

Her father laughed again. “I suppose not.” 

Her eyes still a little blurry, in her mind she conjured up the wonderful image of him and her in her–their–New York apartment, Percy smiling at her over their kitchen table, and her entire body was seized with a sudden, painful need. “I really, really want to marry him, Dad,” she whispered. 

“I know, dear.” 

“And after we get married, he’s going to be part of this–this machine. So I just have to be honest with him. And let him accomplish as many of his goals as I can.”

“So,” he said. “Athens, then.” 

“Yes.” 

“And you think he’ll propose after that?” 

That would be nice. “I don’t know if he’ll think it's alright, though.”

“Well,” he grinned, a little sheepish, “I may have, ah… cornered him a few months ago and informed him that it would be, so I don’t see why he wouldn’t.” 

“Dad!” She felt the blush coat her cheeks. 

“Honestly, you’ve given me some insight into what was taking him so long. But I do understand his desire to go for gold,” he said, stroking his chin. “If my father, or even Randolph, had prevented me from getting my PhD, or from pursuing some scholarship for a bit, well… I would be very cross indeed.” 

“He deserves it.” 

“He does,” he agreed. “Just as you deserve all those buildings in New York with your name on them.” 

And that’s what did it. She felt the tears fall out of her eyes. 

“I’m going to tell him,” she said, voice thick. “After he wins a gold medal, I’m going to tell him all about it.” 

“Or perhaps,” her father replied, with a sparkle in his eye, “you should tell him before, go up to the Parthenon, tell him about it, and help him pray to Athena and Nike for victory.” 

That… was not a bad idea. Perhaps the ritual nature of it would ease him into the idea. And he was, like her dad said, a classicist. He’d want to see the Parthenon. And she could get him VIP access. Maybe even private access, if she asked the right person. “And Poseidon, too, I think. He is sailing, after all.” Hopefully the lord of the ocean hadn’t heard all the shade Percy had been throwing his way recently. Of if he had, hopefully a sacrifice would soothe his ego.  

“And then, we can finally get through all the paperwork.” 

Annabeth blinked. “What paperwork?”

“All the paperwork I had drawn up to get your marriage approved,” he said. 

“Oh,” she grimaced.

“Sadly, other people will want to hear of it, too. But I promise, it is all just a formality. Just tell me when, and I’ll turn the crown Princess into the Crown Princess couple.” 

“You really think it will be alright?”

“I’m the king,” said her father, taking a sip of his beer. “Haven’t you heard? What I say, goes.” 

***

Luke whistled. “Dang.”

“So, you approve?”

“Dude, I don’t think anyone wouldn’t approve.” Luke said, holding the ring up for a better look. The large diamond at the center, square cut and aquamarine blue, perfectly reflected the light, casting glittering refractions all over his fingers. It was surrounded by diamonds so old that they’d been cut before that technology existed. They were framed by pearls, all natural, all saltwater, all perfect, and the shining platinum band which held them all was fit for a princess. Percy hoped.

“Great,” Percy said, “because I need you to create a paper trail that makes it look like I got this ring legally.”

Luke raised an eyebrow, clearly suppressing a grin that Percy knew would only be one of approval. “Did you not?”

“The diamonds came from wrecks that I scavenged. I had to take Hazel with me to make sure I’d gotten the right ones. It's basically looting.” He’d spent the last three years collecting these pearls. It was grueling work, but it was worth it. It was so worth it. 

“Hazel didn’t do the actual jewelry work, did she?” Luke asked, concerned. 

Percy shook his head. She normally wasn’t super comfortable with that, what with her propensity for accidental curses, and Percy would never have made her do that if she didn’t want to. “No, she wouldn’t even call the stuff in the ocean, she'd point it out, and then I’d have to go through rotting wood and rusted metal to get them. Tyson made it for me. And sourced the platinum.” And also designed it for him, with a little help from his harpy girlfriend. Tyson had blushed when he told Percy about it. “But she’s a princess. Some magazine or newspaper–not to mention all of the Internet–is going to want details about where they came from, and I need to explain it without using words like ‘magic’ and ‘Poseidon.’”

Luke turned the ring over, inspecting the underside of the gems. “I thought you were going to tell Annabeth before your proposal.”

He nodded. “I am, in Athens. But I’m not planning on announcing it to the world.”

“I don’t know, that might be kind of funny.”

“I feel like they’d take away my medals if I tell them I can control my boat with my mind. And the ocean, too.” Percy said, “And I would always take you down with me in that situation.”

Luke let his grin out, savage and unrepentant. “Fair. So, you need a place for it to have come from. I can make it look above board. Any other requests?”

“Could you not make it a blood diamond thing? I would love not to imply that.”

“Just looting, then?” he asked, handing the ring back.

Percy made a face, even as he carefully placed it back inside the velvet box. “Look, looting from ships that sank centuries ago for a few gems that would otherwise be lost, so my princess girlfriend can have an engagement ring worthy of her, is reasonable, I think. Over a century of controlling diamond markets, and using it to exploit colonialist populations is not. Having said that, though… Please don’t say I looted anything.”

“I'll see what I can do.”

“Thank you,” he sighed, with relief. And more than a little excitement. After months–years–of planning, it was almost time. He knew he wanted to marry her one normal Tuesday afternoon, as they sat together at Annabeth’s–their–kitchen table, laughing over something silly. Whenever he got cold feet, or felt like the royal life might be too much to handle, he cast his mind back to that beautiful, quiet moment, and reminded himself: no matter how weird and fucky it got, it was worth it. She was worth it all. 

“Anything for you cuz. And that princess.” He smiled, crooked and pleased. “Have you decided how you’re going to do it yet?”

“Not sure yet,” Percy admitted. “I’ve been a little preoccupied.”

“Your race?” 

“Oh, yeah, with that too.” 

Luke frowned. “That’s not what’s been preoccupying you?”

“I mean… it hasn’t… not been preoccupying me,” he said. “But… I’ve been distracted.” 

“With what?”

Percy sighed, sinking into the couch. “You said it. I have to tell her before I can propose to her.” 

Frowning with sympathy, Luke settled down next to him, crossing his arms. “You really think it's going to be a big deal?”

“Of course it's going to be a big deal. You think it won’t be a big deal?”

“No, just go up to her and say ‘the gods are real, like the greek gods, like the ones you learned about but weren't paying attention to.” 

“She likes mythology, she was probably paying attention.” 

“Well, it will be like when I explained things to your mom.” 

Percy snorted. “My mom was hired by Hermes. She knew about my dad. She knew all about everything. She didn’t need some nine year old loser giving her a Greek mythology tutorial.”

“Yeah, well this nine year old loser saved your life.” 

“Tell that to the snakes I strangled at age two.” 

Luke reached over and ruffled Percy’s hair. “Big three braggart.” 

“And proud of it.” 

It was weird being over here. He hadn’t stayed with Luke in New York for a year. Without meaning to, Annabeth’s apartment became home base. The doorman and housekeeper recognized him. He’d had to pack a bag to come over this weekend. But Luke had just short of begged him, saying that it was probably the last time they could do it. 

And frankly, Percy kind of hoped he was right.

“I wasn’t talking about the snakes,” Luke said. 

“No?”

“No, I was talking about our quest.”

Technically speaking, he and Luke had been on half a dozen little quests. But he could only be talking about one. “You did save me from Ladon,” said Percy, probably a little too nostalgic for a near-death experience. 

“I did,” Luke agreed, “on a quest you weren’t even supposed to be on.”

“Come on, you know you wanted me there.”

“Oh yeah, a ten year old hanger on was exactly what I wanted on my deadly quest.”

‘Stowaway’ might have been a more appropriate term, since Percy had hidden in the back seat of Luke’s car and only revealed himself once they had gotten past the George Washington Bridge. Luke, surprised, angry, and having missed the turn to detour North to the Tappan Zee bridge to take Percy back, begrudgingly decided that Percy could stay. Though he did make Percy call his mom and explain where he had gone.  

“What’s gotten you so nostalgic?” Percy asked. 

Pursing his lips, Luke was silent for a little while, determinedly staring up at the ceiling. “Can I be honest?” he said, eventually. 

“I don’t know, big ask for a son of Hermes.” He was expecting the throw pillow to the face, and he caught it.

“Asshole.”

“Yeah, but you love me anyway. So for real, what’s up?”

“I think it’s the whole Athens thing,” said Luke, quietly. 

“The Olympics?”

“No. It’s more the where than the what. We’re going to the motherland.”

Percy paused and considered him. “I think it’s more the fatherland, for us.”

“Be serious.”

“I can‘t. If I am serious, I have to think about it. And then I get freaked out.” 

Luke frowned at him. “What are you freaked out about?”

“Take your pick: the ancient sea, deadly monsters, Zeus being upset at me on the way, not getting gold, Annabeth realizing that she’s too good for a crazy moron like me. I can go on.”

But Luke was undeterred. “Hey–you can kill a lousy monster and control the lousy ocean. Zeus knows the Olympics are for him, and we’re gonna burn a sacrifice and everything, I already have the AirBNB with the fire pit and grill booked.” He paused, took a deep breath, and clapped Percy in the shoulder, but he didn’t move his hand when he was done. “You could win this race with your eyes closed and hands tied behind your back. But that isn’t what you want. And so, you’re going to put your whole heart into it. And also your body. And it will probably go great, but–”

“It didn’t last time.” 

Luke narrowed his eyes, and then used the hand resting on Percy’s shoulder, brought it up and cuffed the side of his head.

“Ow!” 

“Dude, you know the world is full of Olympians who lost at the last second. And settled for silver. Or bronze. You also know that you have the power to make it so that doesn’t happen to you. You chose not to use that power last time.”

Rubbing his head, Percy pouted. “You think I should have cheated.” 

“I think that, given that you only failed to win last time because of supernatural interference, it isn’t really cheating.”

“No?”

“No! Look,” he said, the fire in his eyes blazing with the same kind of righteous indignation he had at sixteen, but without the sickly poison of almost giving himself over to a Titan, “our parents fuck us over. It’s like, their whole thing. They fuck over our mothers, then they fuck over us. But at the very least, they try to make up for it. It isn’t like some stupid fantasy movie where we aren’t allowed to use our powers for ourselves, or let mortals catch on. Mortals don’t notice, and we get to use our powers to balance the scales.” 

Percy raised an eyebrow. “You really think that’s how it works?”

“Sure. What, do you think that a child of Athena is cheating on a test by being really smart?” 

“...Probably not.” 

“Well, it's basically the same thing.”

“So you want me to cheat.” 

Luke shook his head. “No. I want you to forgive yourself if something goes wrong, if another monster attacks. And you choose to intervene, like I know you will, and you choose not to bring your full powers to bear. If you choose not to go for gold, know it is a choice you’re making. And it's okay.” 

That… helped. Something in Percy’s chest unwound a little. “There's always next time, is that it?”

“Not at all,” Luke said with a grin, “because come Tartarus or high water, you’re marrying your princess when this is over.” 

And that brought everything crashing back. “But what if she’s not okay about the demigod stuff?”

“The whole point of monarchy is ‘my bloodline is super special.’ Of course she’ll be cool about it.” 

“And if she is cool with the demigod shit, but says no when I propose?”

Luke stared at him, dumbfounded. “Are you serious?” 

“What?”

“That might be the dumbest thing you’ve ever said in your life.”

“Hey!”

“She is obsessed with you. And in love with you. She has brought you to state dinners. You’ve waved at coronations. Of course she’ll say yes.” 

“Only the one coronation.” Percy felt the need to point out. 

Luke kicked him in the shin. He did not hold back.

#my fic #pjo fic #percabeth #pjo #princess sailor au #bangs pots and pans part two is live

[bubblymochicat]

Dinluke Anastasia au. (It came to me in a dream)

Luke and Leia are the twin prince and princess of the kingdom of Naboo. Their mother, Padmé, is the queen and their father, Anakin, is her consort. Obiwan is their righthand man/advisor and uncle/godfather to the twins, his husband, Cody, is the head of the guards. Din works in the palace as a busboy or whatever.

Palpatine is Rasputin. He was banished on accounts of treason after he tried to manipulate Anakin into killing his then pregnant wife and pinning the blame on Obiwan and Cody so he could take over and appoint Palpatine as his new advisor. Ultimately giving Palpatine all the power and making Anakin his puppet. I don't know who the little bat/sidekick would be. Maybe Maul...

Anyway, on the Night of the twins' 8th birthday a huge party is thrown and people from all over come to celebrate their beloved rulers. Palpatine sneaks in and it goes down pretty much the same way as in the movie. He busts in makes some little speech sets loose his little ghosty things and choas breaks out. I'm not sure whether I would have Anakin and Padmé killed off, or keep them alive. I know for sure that I want Obiwan, Luke, Leia, and Cody to live.

Maybe Obiwan and Cody get separated and both think the other is dead. Hmmmm.

Anyway, back to the plot!

Obiwan rushes off with Luke and Leia to try and get them to safety because either droids (they would just be enemy soldiers in this) or clones (probably droids, unless I want to make some big scandal involving the clones betraying them) are swarming in trying to get to the twins.

Like in the movie with Dimitri, Din is there when some palace staff sneak the twins and Obi through a secret pass. Right as they're going through Luke realizes that he left behind his something, either his lightsaber or his little toy plane that Obi got him.

Mmmm.

Lightsaber. He runs back in to grab his lightsaber, but only manages to grab the kyber crystal.

Okay hold up. I have to go watch Anastasia again because I forgot how the rest of this scene goes

#star wars au #star wars #dinluke au #dinluke #anastasia au #part 1 #bubbly thoughts #bubbly talks a lot

[bohemian-nights]

Don’t get me wrong I’m all for women empowerment and feminism (though as many have pointed out before on this app Rhaenyra isn’t really a fan of 🤫) but something about Team Green is really starting to appeal to me.

The complexity of Alicent and all of her relationships (platonic and otherwise *alicole*), Otto and his schemes (as a father he sucks but as a politician…🫠), the relationship between Aegon, Helaena and Aemond (Daeron too but he’s in Oldtown), the complex personalities of the three (I would like to point out that I do not support show!Aegon. I feel as though his character has thus far been wasted potential. Especially since while he was book wise an alcoholic and a cheater he wasn’t a rapist and he wasn’t putting the children of said rape in fighting pits). I am of the opinion that EVERYONE (some worse than others) got screwed over personality wise but geez 🙄.

I hate unnecessary violence and trauma against women but especially sexual trauma. We didn’t get a sex scene with Aemma and Laena but we did get the horrifying scene of Aemma’s medieval c-section, and of course the “GiRl BoSs fEMinISt" scene of Laena committing suicide. While there has been no sexual or implied sexual violence against Baela and Rhaena adding them to the fight scene with Aemond, Jace and Luke was unnecessary violence that they were forced to endure (while there father of course doesn’t even blink an eye to them bloody and bruised 🙄🫠). Every sort of sexual scene we have seen Alicent in has been her being abused in some way.

Rhaenyra was abandoned half-naked and vulnerable in a whore house (I would also like to point out that this is Rhaenyra’s first sexual experience of any kind) by the man we are meant to believe is the love of her life, and then is later chocked by the same man because of her unwillingness to immediately resort to war + the fact that said man was never completely trusted by his brother (I actually like Daemon but god has his character been screwed over).

Anyway…this was originally just supposed to be about how I was starting to see the appeal of Team Green but then I got carried away and now thinking about all of this I’m kinda pissed lol.

👏🏽Talking about this show does not bring out the best feelings 🤣

I’ve always liked the Greens(probably cause they remind me of the Lannisters and they were the house that I originally gravitated to when I first watched GOT).

I know people say that we are supposed to view Greens as the bad guys during the Dance, but to me, they are still sympathetic. Look at things from book!Alicent’s position and tell me you wouldn’t do the same thing🙃 You’d be a literal fool to side with Rhaenyra knowing your sons would always be seen as a threat to her and it’s already been proven that she has no qualms killing family(see Ser Vaemond which happened well before the Dance 😗)

While I disagree with many of the changes made in the show, the Greens (besides Aegon who they managed to make look worse than his book counterpart 🤦🏽‍♀️) are given much more complexity than Team Black as a whole.

Granted, the show has a problem with throwing everyone(the exception being Aemond who is Ryan Condal’s Daemon🤣) under the bus to prop up Rhaenyra, but Team Black characters have it bad*(ex. Laena being treated as the disposable Blackish woman and her girls being pretty props🫠).

Supporting Team Black because of “feminism” makes no sense considering Rhaenyra is about as feminist as Missy Anne(and that’s not hyperbole before anyone tries it because Queenie uses racism to justify ordering a potentially pregnant Nettles’ death🙃).

She’s not trying to break the wheel. She doesn’t even help other highborn women(see the Rosby and Stokeworth ladies) or her own stepdaughters(she herself would never agree to being just a queen consort like how she wants Baela to be😗)She’s not Dany.

She just wants to have occupy the head seat with the boys. She's not going to help any other woman get there 🤷🏽‍♀️

I'm really team-neutral, but the Greens are not nearly as bad as people make it seem and the Dance isn't as cut and dry either(both sides have good and bad characters with the main claimants being sh*tty people who very nearly get their entire family killed).

#bnasks #bnask #hotd ask

[horizon-verizon]

What do you think of this?

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/dulcewrites/715272275441729537

I am just going to transcribe what the person wrote, bc I don't want to go back and forth for this:

I have random Baela and Rhaena thoughts. This is probably discombobulated lmao 😭

As much as I am looking forward to (and very much hoping for) more scenes/lines for rhaena and baela, it is personally going to be so… bittersweet (??) to watch them be involved in a war where imo they gain nothing by Rhaenyra winning. And knowing how reading seems to not be fundemental in this fandom, no this is not me saying it would make sense for them to fight for team green. Though if Alicent followed through on what she said to Rhaenys, they’d have driftmark but that’s neither here nor there I guess.

Especially if we go strictly by show canon. They are THEE dragon twins essentially offered up to legitimized two boys bc that’s all Rhaenyra has at that moment (before viserys swoops in again). She tried with Alicent, who shot her down knowing that Helaena, Dreamfyre, and possible children she would have with Jace would be used as leverage.

I would get it more if it was for family reasons or even personal ambitions (Baela being queen. Though her children would quite literally be put in the same position Rhaenyra’s kids are. If they even got that far💀). But imo nothing in the show depicts that. They try to show them having some sort of affection with Luke and Jace; still don’t know if that is romantic or sibling wise. Either way, I’m supposed to believe it’s enough?? If the fight is for Rhaenyra, they did a bad job showing that too and frankly it would not make sense. If it is for daemon that’s… a choice.

Something about Baela being ‘just like daemon’ but sitting and smiling nicely while Rhaenyra takes her birthright just kind of makes me laugh 😭. Like I said, I could possibly understand this decision if we got shades of Baela wanting to be queen. She seems pretty devoted to her grandmother and wards at Driftmark, it is just hard for me to think she in particular would be over the moon about Luke being lord of the tides. Regardless of if she sees him as family or not.

I am someone who will always advocate for more women on the show, especially women from a different social/economic background from the noble ones we got in s1. So if they choose to make Sara Snow a real person, there won’t be any real qualms out of me about it (unless they write her weird lol). But ngl it will be hard watching Baela fight, quite literally, while jace is away possibly falling in love and Rhaenyra sits on her butt at dragonstone. And daemon is away grooming another young girl???

Like who and what are they fighting for!!!

Oh, don’t even get me started on how Rhaena gets absolutely nothing out of this, and honestly nothing from the people who are supposed to take care of her. I just think they both got the short end of the stick, at least during the war. Which I guess is the point of it all. Casualties and people going through strife for a stupid throne but yeah.. I’m just kind of eh about watching that unfold.

Answers

A)

I already stated several times that DaemonxNettles isn't a thing and Daemon never groomed that girl. People can check out the stuff I have tagged as "daemon and nettles", click this link, or click this for a very specific post about it.

B)

Them: "Though her children would quite literally be put in the same position Rhaenyra’s kids are. "

No, they wouldn't. How would they...if the greens were sent to the Wall, executed, etc.? How ridiculous.

...I don't understand how Baela and Rhaena wouldn't win by becoming a Queen and a Lady of a major house respectively. Ain't no way.....Why does this person think Margaery Tyrell, Cersei Lannister Arianne Martell, and Rhaenyra herself ALL want to be some sort of Queen or woman-in-charge-with-highest-social-station?!

There are real sociopolitical benefits to being a Lady of a great house and a damn Queen Consort! That is the entire point of feudalist political marriages!

They say this: "And knowing how reading seems to not be fundemental in this fandom, no this is not me saying it would make sense for them to fight for team green. Though if Alicent followed through on what she said to Rhaenys, they’d have driftmark but that’s neither here nor there I guess."

Yet the second sentence is telling us that Alicent would have given Driftmark to the girls if they had just changed teams or acquiesced to the greens' terms...which is still giving up the black cause/rhaenyra's cause. So in order to get the house that Rhaenys, Viserys, and Corlsy all already give Rhaena and her future kids with Luke....the girls have to be handed their already-assured inheritances by those who are seeking to make them and those they lived with as family members for 6 years hostage...Cuz that's what Otto is doing: trying to make these girls hostages and limit their options so they, Daemon, and Rhaenyra can't retaliate in fear of these girls and these girls' parents' lives...If any of them were to just give up!

The other thing is that, once again, Corlys is the one to have made the arrangement with Viserys concerning who will inherit and marry who. not Rhaenyra, who is merely following their directive and wishes that also benefit the two girls mentioned!

You know, perhaps it's because of the jump cut and HotD's terrible writing limiting how much screentime each actor gets to show emotion, and how we the audience do not actually witness how Rhaenyra's family became a family after she and Daemon marry (Spoiler alert, it is!). jeynearrynofthevale writes this about one thing the show should have done:

Spend way more time on court politics and the buildup of the dance. Show why the two sides are falling the way they do and establish the core issues at play. Spend some more time establishing the characters before time jumps. Maybe give Rhaenyra motivation for ruling in terms of what she wants to do. Have her and Alicent navigate around each other in court.

the reason why it feels like Baela seems placid or uninterested is not because she is emotionally distant from her own family, but because these writers aren't worth their salt. the Jump cut robbed us all.

You don't even need to have read any ASoIaF book to understand any of this. how could one not know that being Queen Consort is a coveted and sociopolitically advantageous position?!

C)

There is absolutely no proof that Sara Snow existed. Absolutely none. the only thing we ever hear about this girl is from Mushroom...who never was in the North with Jace! So how the hell does he know this girl exists, much less what Jaecerys did or didn't do with her?!

Mind you, this is the same person who inspired the idea that Daemon fucked Nettles:

Mushroom [who was not at Maidenpool] would have us believe it was not. By the dwarf’s account, Daemon Targaryen had come to love the small brown bastard girl, and had taken her into his bed.

("Rhaenyra Triumphant")

If the writers dare to make Sara Snow a thing, and if this writer is that concerned about Baela fighting while Jace cheats on her, they should know that if they make SS a real person and have Jace cheat with her it's all bullshit just to add "spice" and be provocative. Just as Mushroom does and what they did with Rhaenys coming out of the floor in epi 9.

D)

IF Rhaenyra is going to just "sit on her butt" because SHE JUST "GAVE BIRTH" TO A STILLBORN BABY!!!

and because it is already common and expected for the leader of the side to be like the king piece of chess: little moves to limit the opportunities for the other side to injure/kill them.

I don't know if I want these posts anymore...I've gone down some crazy rabbit holes.

E) *Look to comments/reblogs for mononijikayu's description of how this also reveals the HotD's lack of knowledge and perspective about medieval woman's acts towards gaining and using power*

Excerpts:

1.

and also, baela and rhaena becoming queen and lady of the tides is the best damn position they could get. as the line of succession places them further, their real shot is a really good royal marrisge. daughters go before uncles in line of succession, so daemon's baela and rhaena would end up behind rhaenyra's female led bloodline - herself, her sons with laenor and then her sons with daemon and then their daughter visenya had she lived.

2.

thats why laena and rhaenyra arranged the marriage a few years before she passed. baela being queen consort could usher a revival of a type of queenship that hasnt been seen since rhaenys and visenya. jace would be a pro-active king who probably will like to see how his people lives, so he would continue the tradition of aegon i's royal processions. he would leave the rulership to baela, administratively as his representative and rule on his behalf. its been done before by various kings, including by richard lionheart who named his mother regent while he was on crusade. jace would do the same, but with baela doing much of the administration and household and managing of royal residences.

#asoiaf asks to me #baela and rhaena #baela targaryen #rhaena targaryen #rhaena targaryen (daemon's daughter) #sara snow #hotd characterization #hotd #house of the dragon #where do you people find these posts?!

[lya-dustin]

All is bliss

Chapter 15

Cw:blood, death the usual

Gif by @cristophernolan

Taglist: @mercedesdecorazon @aemondx @darylandbethfanforever9 @sweethoneyblossom1

The morning of the petition finds her at grandfather’s door.

Well that is a lie, this morning found her in Aemond’s bed and Ser Criston apologizing for catching them doing the beast with two backs.

“I ask that you spare him only because he is the grandfather of your granddaughter, and he is my blood.” Aemma had said when she asked him to spare Vaemond’s life. “Give him whatever punishment you believe is just, but I only ask that you do not make a martyr for the Greens to uphold the moment you die.”

She does not like lying, she likes to speak plainly and without falsity and this is one of these moments when she is glad that one does not lie to the king.

Everything here is about lies and how pretty and sweet they sound.

Aemma likes the truth no matter how ugly it is.

“You will be a good queen, I knew it the moment I held you and the dragons roared as one.” He pats her head as if she were still the ten year old girl who asked him questions and he deigned to answer as best as he could.

Aemma stands at the left of the Throne, away from her goodfamily and facing hers.

A small but public show of defiance towards the Greens.

She may be Aegon’s wife, but they do not have her loyalty.

They will never have her loyalty.

Even if they crown her and claim her bastards as trueborn, they will never make her one of them.

Vaemond glares at her knowing he’s lost.

Had the king not come, he would leave here alive.

If he is here, then he leaves without his tongue.

“I must admit my confusion. I do not understand why petitions are being heard over a settled succession.” He begins slowly, catching his breath. “The only one present… who might offer keener insight into Lord Corlys’s wishes is the Princess Rhaenys.”

Grandmother would not risk the deaths of her brothers even if they do not have her blood.

It was simply not in her to condemn innocents for something they never asked for.

“Indeed, Your Grace.” And yet the Red Queen’s answer shocks them all. Some with relief other with horror.

“It was ever my husband’s will that Driftmark pass through Ser Laenor to his true born son, Jacaerys Velaryon.

His mind never changed.

Nor did my support of him.

As a matter of fact, the Princess Rhaenyra has just informed me of her desire to marry her sons Jace and Luke to Lord Corlys’s granddaughters, Baela and Rhaena.

A proposal to which I heartily agree.”

Sometimes, what is right is not what is good.

That had been a lesson she learned from her.

What is right is to condemn mother and her brothers to die. What is good is to continue turning a blind eye because that keeps them alive.

“Well… the matter is settled. Again.” The king dismissed the petition with a wave of his hand to Vaemond’s displeasure. “I hereby reaffirm Prince Jacaerys of House Velaryon as heir to Driftmark, the Driftwood Throne, and the next Lord of the Tides.”

Aemma stops holding her breath as this case goes on without bloodshed.

“I will not allow it!”

She spoke too soon.

“Do not forget yourself, my lord.” Aemma warns, hoping her being the one to pull rank on him will offend him into leaving. “We may be kin, but even my lady mother would not dare defy the king as you do now.

Leave before you exhaust the king’s mercy, dear uncle.”

There is some uneasy chatter, especially when Vaemond and his supporters grow infuriated by someone they consider as their lesser for being a woman.

In the social hierarchy, Aemma is the fifth ---fourth is you remove Daemon as mother’s consort--- highest ranking member of the court.

Aemma curtseys to only four people: the king, the queen, her mother and Daemon ---as long as he is married to mother.

Everyone else, including her husband and the Lord Hand, must bow or curtsey to her whenever they are in public.

Aemma is not fond of pulling rank ---feels too much like a bitch even when protocol demands it after--- but to stop anyone from dying, she is willing to do it.

It does not work.

“Be grateful, my grandchild has interceded on your behalf, Lord Vaemond. Had she not asked for mercy on account of being your blood, I would have had your tongue for this.” The king dismissed him and bade the Kingsguard to take him by force if need be.

“My house survived the Doom and a thousand tribulations besides. And gods be damned, I will not see it ended on the account of this…”

Vaemond never finished his tirade.

The word whore is not shouted, but it is heard even as the steel of Dark Sister slices through Vaemond’s neck.

Even at a distance, Aemma is stained by a streak of her great-uncle’s blood.

To continue the farce of burying the hatchet, they must dress in opposite colors for dinner.

Aemond owns one pair of black clothes worthy of court.

Black leather more suited for riding and training.

Almost everything he wears is dark green.

In solidarity with his mother and their cause.

Helaena wears blue now to show she is against their mother's and grandfather’s schemes.

“I already ordered the royal tailor to make a new wardrobe, do not dare tease me so.” He tells Aemma who is still a bit shaken from this morning.

The blood of her great-uncle had ruined her dress, a soft blue that reminded him of her eyes with delicate gold leaves at the ends, and yet his immediate thought was blood red suits her.

“You only wear buttons when you are cross with me.” He points out running a finger down the long row of satin covered buttons on the back.

Infernal invention that was ---unfortunately--- catching on like the plague.

“Not cross, just ran out of green dresses. Gods I cannot wait for this to be over.” She said forgetting she is to leave.

Aemond knows tomorrow’s verdict will crush her and will relapse in her melancholia, but really, Gerardys and Orwyle could have suggested the hunting lodge or a nearby manse in the city.

There was no need for her to go to Dragonstone.

He could not leave with her ---as it was not proper for someone who is not her husband--- nor could he even visit without a good enough reason.

“I have something for you.” He whispers in the shell of her ear and keeping her with his back to him.

They stand in front of her dressing mirror, both looking at the other through the reflection as she stands still for him.

He takes the velvet pouch in his pocket and carefully takes out the thin gold chain on which a sapphire as large as the one in his eye hangs.

“Something to remember me by, when you are away.” He says as if he doesn’t hate the idea of her being gone.

Her hand gingerly touches the stone and holds his gaze through the looking glass and says it, “I love you. Whatever happens tomorrow won’t change that.”

“I know.”

#aemma velaryon #aemond targaryen x velaryon!oc #all is bliss fic #aemond x rhaenyra and laenor's! daughter #aemond x ofc #ewan mitchell

[minteaspoon]

The Kingdom of Naath

set in the “Mhysa” universe

the first part of “Mhysa” is linked down below:

Premise:

Basically some world building in Luke’s kingdom; the Kingdom of Naath

btw: Mimosa is an oc of mine, and is pretty much if Luna Lovegood and Newt Scamander merged into one and transferred over to ASOIAF:D

“Sovereign Mhysa! We have letters from Essos pertaining the building of ports for trade from there to here, and here to there! We need only your signature to follow through!-“

“Sovereign Mhysa! We need your signature on this document for the building of the orphanages to house the Westerosi orphans Lady Mysaria brought over!-“

“Sovereign Mhysa!-“

“Sovereign Mhysa!-“

“Sovereign Mhy-!”

Over and over, Mhysa hears the yelling of his title, and duties as Naath’s Kingdom.

How in the world did my grandsires handle all this? How did my mother handle all this?

Mhysa sighs, burrowing his head into his arms at his wooden desk currently sat in his office in the Korlyn Main Hall.

The building was the first official place of meeting, and the place where all decisions for the future of Naath are made and decided. Housed in the Imperial Pillar.

Standing up, the brunette walks to the open window overlooking Midsummer Shore - it was the main port of Naath, and the busiest part of the realm.

There were eight parts of Naath in total;

Addersfield was where Mhysa was crowned before the masses, and where all the tribes and people of Naath were finally united, liberated, and protected under the banner of House Stormdrake. It’s where the first settlements of United Naathi sprang forth, where it’s animals are held in, and where the majority of Naath’s vegetation is grown in.

Aempleforth’s the housing unit. It’s where most Naathi, and people moving to Naath, reside in. Though some opt to scatter all around Naath, Aemoleforth is Naath’s equivalent to Flea Bottom, but one that’s in far better condition. It’s overseen by Mysaria.

Midsummer Shore was the main trading center when going in and out of Naath, with its biggest trading port being Port Obsidian. Mostly only active at night, as the Butterfly Fever is less to contract at night when the butterflies slumber. It’s overseen by Addam.

Isle of Gardenias houses those with magic, led and taught by Mhysa’s old and good friend; Mimosa, the All-Mother of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Headmistress of Mexarts Academy, who oversees the lone island out on the coast of Naath.

Thunder Isle acts as the headquarters of Naath’s Navy; the Storming Fleet. It houses Seasmoke, and is overseen by Alyn, Commander of the Storming Fleet, Lord of the Seas, and Prince Consort to Mhysa Stormborne.

High Peaks contains the army’s barracks, and holds Naath’s weapons and the dragon Sheepstealer, who’s rider is Nettles, General of the Naathi Army. Nettles oversees the district.

Sanctity Slope protects and houses those of the God(s), and acts as the main facility for religious practices, as it’s built large enough to contain many rooms for many religious purposes and practices. It also safeguards Memorial Hall, where the dead are remembered - visited and prayed for and to by the living. Brutus and Ajax oversees the building.

Imperial Pillar is the place Mhysa calls his home. It contains his and his family’s rooms and belongings, along with the Throne of Naath - Mhysa’s throne.

A throne Mhysa forged and built from Thunder and Lightning.

Sighing, the male closes his eyes, and listens to the soft breeze and distant chatter of his people.

His people who he would do anything for, as they did for him and his family at their lowest.

Footsteps pitter patter on the wood of the hall, and Mhysa turns to see one of his bro- sons running towards him, a smile on his face.

“Mother! The Black Council asks for you in the main room. They wanted to discuss matters regarding trade with Houses Stark and Arryn in Westeros,” the white haired fourteen year old beams, staring up at his nineteen year old bro- mother.

Mhysa tilts his head at his son, his son with white hair, his son who never truly was.

His joyful Ajax.

“Mother will be there soon. Tell the Council that, I have a few more documents I need to finish until I am free to come and discuss such things.”

Ajax nods, and starts to turn before turning back to his crouching mother. He pecks his mother’s tannish and freckled cheek before running away, exuberant giggles expelling from his crescent-shaped mouth.

The brunette chuckles softly, shaking his head and standing straight.

He walks back towards his desk, taking one look at his still quite large amount of paperwork to fill out, before his gaze of soft yet stern chocolate moves to his kingdom.

The kingdom he worked so hard to unite and build. And the dynasty he knew his mother, and fathers, and brothers would be proud of him for creating.

#lucemond #lucerys velaryon #my oc #house of the dragon #hbo house of the dragon #hotd #aegon iii targaryen #naath #westeros