Overhated Female Character Defender

to end the silver flames discourse i’m finally just going to come out and say it. in highschool i had to do outpatient therapy for mental health reasons but my hometown isn’t very big so i got sent to a local rehab for teens with substance abuse issues. i was IN REHAB. stop saying the plot of acosf is in any way even remotely near what a professional should or would do. it’s NOT!

combing through my adwd highlights and notes it is darkly comedic that the unsullied + dany are avoiding the bloody flux through the power of bathing regularly

https://archiveofourown.org/works/62741350/chapters/162050887

guys i updated you should like totally read it

i like to invent reasons and at least semi realistic motivations for fucked up family dynamics so here’s what i think made the archeron family Like That: we’re told Mr. Archeron was the only one who Mrs. Archeron truly loved. I say she had the sisters because Mr. Archeron wanted kids, not her. That’s why she likes each subsequent child less and less; Nesta was the first one when she was at least kind of open to the idea of kids, but by the time Elain comes around she’s sick and tired of pregnancy, by the time she agrees to have Feyre she’s absolutely pissed she agreed to this but because she can’t bring herself to be mad at her beloved husband she takes out her resentment on her two youngest and generally ignores them. Nesta looks so much like her and came from a happier time in her life so despite being generally uninterested in parenting she tries with Nesta. Besides, her overbearing mother is in the house with her, breathing down her neck, ready to chastise her for being a bad mother. It’s probably easier to hedge her bets than with the most promising child and raise one exceptional one instead of three okay ones. Mr. Archeron can sense this and tries to compensate by favoring Elain and Feyre, which only drives a wedge between the sisters.

“The human lands.”

“The…what?” Feyre was flabbergasted. Weren’t expecting me to do that, were you?

“You heard me. I’d pick the human lands over being locked in a house with that prick.” She knew refusing to address Cassian directly would set him off. She could almost picture the indignation on his face, but wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of looking at him either.

“Now she’s just being difficult on purpose.” Amren said. Nesta was right. Being talked about as if you weren’t there was infuriating.

“Nes, you can’t actually mean it.” There went Cassian, trying to sound like a kicked puppy.

“Yes, I can.” She felt resolute.

“Think about what life in the human lands would mean, Nesta,” Rhysand urged, false concern ringing through his tone, “Even though we worked together to defeat Hybern, Fae and human relations are…far from ideal. You’d be-”

“Surrounded by people who hate me? I already am.” Nesta spat. “At least the people chasing me with pitchforks and torches will be upfront about it instead of hiding it in some bullshit about being concerned for my well being.”

“We don’t hate you, we want to help you-” Feyre tried to interject, but Nesta cut her off. “But I hate you. This is the best thing that could have happened, actually. I never want to see your face again.” Feyre just sighed.

“That is enough!” Rhysand snarled, “Feyre has been too generous with you, time and time again, and you will not throw it in her face like this.” Both Cassian and Feyre shot him a warning look. Nesta wanted to scream.

“Nesta,” Rhysand tried again, using his look at me I’m being so patient and paternalistic and wise voice, “Have you ever heard the phrase 'cutting off your nose to spite your face’?”

Nesta just glared at him. “The human lands. You said I could choose.” She reveled in the looks of shock on their faces. “I bet you’ll be happy to finally send me away.”

There was dead silence. Nesta reveled in it. “So who’s going to winnow me there? Mor? Rhysand? Azriel?” She turned to Feyre, who gaped at her like a fish. “You?”

“Azriel can.” Rhysand cut in. “He’s more familiar with the human lands than any of us,” he closed his eyes briefly, “And he’s on his way.”

Both Feyre and Cassian whipped their heads towards Rhysand in shock and indignation, confirming Nesta’s suspicions that the human lands were a bluff. Feyre tried to protest, but Nesta cut her off. “Rhysand is fond of giving females choices, right? Prides himself on it. So I choose exile in the human lands. Unless you were lying, and there was no choice at all?”

Feyre looked stunned. “Nesta, please think of what you’re doing.”

“I’ve thought about it. I’m done. Honestly, I hope a mob with pitchforks comes and puts me out of my misery. I bet that would make you happy, wouldn’t it? Never having to deal with your evil sister again?”

“That’s enough!” Rhysand snarled, but Nesta had already shouldered her way past Cassian and grabbed the handle of the door. “I’ll wait for Azriel outside.”

I’ve picked up the pen again, read the rest of chapter one: https://archiveofourown.org/works/62741350/chapters/160621048

i wish that nyx was a girl not just because i’m pedantic about nyx being a female goddess but also that having a son puts feysand in an incredibly sticky political situation. in eight years they’ll be expected to drop him off at an illyrian war camp, where kids are whipped and have their bones broken for infractions. if they don’t make him, the illyrians will never respect him or see him as one of their own, and will grow resentful of Rhysand. If they start trying to reform the child soldier training system now, it’s going to be blatantly obvious that they’re only doing it to spare their son, which will cause more resentment. So their options are let Nyx be abused, which Rhysand thinks is normal and Feyre is horrified by, so massive rift in the marriage and a traumatized kid. OR variations of losing any vestiges of respect the illyrians. now this is an sjm problem and fits better as a doylist critique but i will add this to my list of evidence that rhysand is fucking stupid anyways. not only did he not think through the potential physical dangers of having a child with feyre but never connected the dots to see just how badly it’s gonna blow up in his face in t-minus eight years. oh tumblr user kataraavatara, you say, you’re so cruel, why are you criticizing him for wanting to start a family. well when you’re the head of a hereditary monarchy your children and how you raise them are in fact political choices as well as personal ones. tough luck bat boy.