#Bare minimum

[brainspiraling]

Sometimes when people say they "can't give you what you need", they mean they won't— they don't care enough to.

[lizziesdigitaldiary]

[classycookiexo]

[internetgreatesthits]

[litnerdwrites]

Suddenly, the reasoning behind Nesta's sudden institutionalisation, and forced training, after waiting over a year to help her, makes perfect sense. No, it's not because Feyre sobbed into her eggs one morning or because they care about helping her.

It's because of the trove.

rainkatzanddogs on tiktok, put together a timeline for the SJM universe, and for each events, references which chapter (including bonus content) they take place in. I'll be referencing that in this post.

Feyre learned about Nesta's 500 gold marks spending spree one day before the start of ACOSF, right before Rhysand explains his plan. The one that Cassian believed he'd made a while back, given how detailed it was. The next day is when the intervention happens, and after that, Rhysand asks Cassian to look into the Human queens.

If he's asking Cassian to look into it at this point, then we can assume that he has reasonable evidence to suggest that they're doing something shady. By this point, according to the timeline, Baron has already made a deal with them, Eris' soldiers are under the Crowns control, and have been for a month. Meaning Briallyn has had the crown for longer than a month.

16 days after the start of ACOSF, they have the meeting where they use Elain to manipulate Nesta into searching for the trove.

I think it's reasonable to assume that the IC had some idea about the trove, and if not that specifically, than that magical items were being used by a death god and a cauldron made queen to control people. It would be naive to think they were completely ignorant of what was going on. Even by the time that first meeting takes place, they clearly have a decent level of knowledge on the trove, how to find it, and who's currently looking for it.

It isn't unreasonable to think that Rhys had some idea that they'd need Nesta to scry for them or to help them later on. So, he devised a plan where she trains, and works in the library so she'd be ready to help them when they need it.

She'd be prepped for missions due to her training.

She'd have ample time to research and study while in the library, even if she only shelves books, she'd know where to find the ones she needed to research whatever they asked of her,

And since her life would be in their hands, they could make her do anything without her arguing that she's a free citizen, because at this point, she isn't.

They used the guise of it being healing as a way to pitch the idea to Feyre and Elain, even though neither of them seemed to have an issue manipulating her into doing what they wanted, since they likely discussed the using Elain to convince her to scry, because Elain didn't seem to surprised when they didn't ask her to do it later, nor did she seem bothered when Nesta ended up doing it anyway. Hell, she literally came in to say she'd do it, got under Nesta's skin, and left without listening and/or contributing to the conversation anymore than that.

Cassian seemed hell bent on making her into a warrior from the moment they met, despite her wishes, and since he so blatantly doesn't care for her or her autonomy at all, he's obviously in, so he can get what he wants. A mate that's a warrior and his emotional punching bag to take out his insecurities on, but also has her own insecurities and traumas, so she'd never go against him and he could continue to flirt with Mor and (let's be real) Rhys without worrying about said mate having the strength to stand up to him.

It was never about helping Nesta, it was all a rouse to make her into a tool that was useful to them, with little risk. If she dies, she's no longer a problem for them, or anything to fear. If she lives, she's either contained forever, or heals into the perfect tool for them to use whenever they want. It's a win-win for Rhys and Cassian.

[annagxx]

Imagine being loved without having to earn it someone who notices your silence, gets excited just to hear your voice, sees your overthinking and still chooses you, every single time. Sounds dreamy, right? Sadly, some of us are out here craving a love we've only imagined… because all we've known is love that hurts, hides, or leaves.

[autisticmind]

Do you guys ever feel so much sudden rage at society for failing to provide the bare minimum support you needed/need to survive/thrive that you have to actually time. out. your mind for a while to calm down????

[thedany3]

🥲✌️

ifykyk

[valewritessss]

Why is it that most of the time they either make Annabeth seem like Percy’s mother or they make her a tool for him to be more angsty and dark and disregard all of her character and trauma? Can we normalize making them equals

[classycookiexo]

[darkpoeticsoul]

[feministfang]

As a straight woman, a relationship advice i would like to give to other straight women is to never settle with a man who is not adding value to your life.

Some of you radfems in heterosexual relationships are literally dating men who put bare minimum effort. You people keep crying about the bar being so low for these men and then proceed to date them when they only give you respect, attention or are loyal or have integrity. These things are just bare minimum.

If i am dating a man, i would expect him to serve me. He should make my life easier, struggle-free, support my dreams, spoil me with romantic gestures like dates, flowers or opening doors. He should worship me literally and make me feel special because i know i am a goddess and deserve high value treatment.

This is how i treat myself. And if i am treating myself better than how he is treating me, or if i am struggling with something and he is just sitting there with his verbal "you’re so strong you can do it yourself" gesture thinking that would make me fall for him more,i would literally dump his ass. He is completely useless.

Take advantage of your relationships! If your relationship with this man is not benefitting you, then he is just another burden in your life. Men are literally built to serve women, so raise your standards!!

It’s always the broke or 50/50 mentality mediocre ones crying about high standards of women. And it’s always the women who are not aware of their worth settling with these losers. These low standards you people have for these men are not even my standards for platonic relationships.

Start valuing yourselves!! Decenter men, stop chasing them, stop replying to their texts if social media is where they approach you… it’s literally embarrassing, and just live your best life loving yourself and being obsessed with yourself.

It’s because you’re so focused on finding a right partner, you limit your standards in the process. If you actually start utilising all that energy in yourself instead, you will realise that you’re out of so many men’s league and their low effort behaviour will make you wanna puke on their faces.

You disrespect yourself when you lower your standards for men. If a man cannot afford my standards, that’s his problem not mine since i would reject him. His loss! My attraction to a man will never become a reason to date him, it will always be my high expectations. I don’t care about my love for him. I love myself first.

I don’t need a man for anything. I am independent and can live happily on my own. But just because i can provide for myself does not mean i would settle with someone who does not have a provider mentality.

I am not blessing any man’s life with my presence if i am not welcomed like a goddess in it. I won’t even give him attention. As long as he’s bothering me, he’s my server or he’s a nobody to me.

[herz-ueber-k0pf]

How could I settle for the bare mininum, while my husband is treating me as an equal, doing the laundry, splitting mental load 50/50 etc. as the hot fucking feminist that he is?

[ophelia-is-not-okay]

Everyone wants something real until they meet someone whose real standards challenge them to be real consistent, real considerate and real committed.

[111lustforlife]

if they want to reach out, they will.

a relationship is a workplace with two shifts.

stop working overtime.

[inky-sun]

Bare Minimum

I loved like houses meant to last,

Laid every brick, sealed every crack.

But every hand I ever held

Just leaned against me, never helped.

They walked in warm, with empty arms,

Drew from my light, escaped the storms.

I fed the fire, kept them fed—

They left me starving love instead.

I listened close, I stayed up late,

I showed up early, cleaned their slate.

I wrote the words they wouldn’t say,

And gave my quiet nights away.

They took my softness like a loan,

Assumed I'd always be their home.

They rang me up when life felt small,

But never picked up when I’d call.

Their love was rationed, thin and slow—

A drop for every flood I’d show.

They called it effort, I called it crumbs,

And swallowed silence when it comes.

I asked for presence, not a prize,

For truth, not perfect alibis.

But they'd forget, and I’d forgive,

And teach them how I should be lived.

I begged myself to walk away,

But hope would ask me, “One more day?”

So I’d stay late and sweep their mess,

Still praying they'd see all I gave.

Now love feels like a waiting room,

Where I bring flowers to my tomb.

I plant in gardens never mine,

And bloom in soil that shows no sign.

But let them keep their lazy hands,

Their shallow hearts, their shifting sands.

I won’t be loving out of lack,

Or trade my gold for love turned black.

Next time I give, it will be met—

With hands that hold, and not forget.

With eyes that see me standing tall,

Not just a cushion for their fall.

I’m done with halves. I want the whole.

Not just a guest, but heart and soul.

No more pretending "less" is fine.

I was the gift—not just the line.