#the way i'm still mentally pacing after those pictures. again. feel unwell over them they make me so emotional actually

[lcerys]

LUKE + THOUGHTS ON CORLYS

corlys velaryon was, after his mother and siblings and father, one of the most important people in luke's life. there were political reasons as to why corlys was as important as he was to luke's life ― but the most relevant part for him has always been how much he loved the man.

corlys is someone luke has always deeply admired. he was known as the sea snake, one of the most remarkable men of his generation ( and further ), and who would leave his mark in history. he had led house velaryon successfully during years, raising it even further than he had inherited it, and done so through work of his own through his voyages. he was one of the best sea-fearers of his age, who travelled far and further still.

for all his accomplishments, it was not those that earned corlys luke's eternal loyalty, obviously, but how he stood by his and his brothers' side. how he upheld what laenor had said and claimed them as velaryons. house velaryon was by no means small ― he could have easily looked towards a nephew of his to name heir, someone unquestioned. someone who had grown at driftmark. anyone without the stain of a disputed legitimacy. laenor had died when he was four, which means the protection he derived from him was lost ( and luke did see to his father to fill that aspect of protection in his life, regardless that they may not have lived together ) he never looked to corlys for said protection, as that was not his role in his life, but that corlys looked to him and didn't reject him ? meant the world to him. the fact that even when luke proclaimed himself and his brothers targaryens, corlys would call them velaryons and be proud of them ? meant the world to him.

there might have been a political angle to it. it might have been because his betrothal to rhaena has stood since he was three years old. it might have been to get a king with the velaryon name in the throne ( even if jace would have taken the targaryen family name upon becoming king ). he doesn't know. he doesn't care. all he knows is he choose to support him and claim him as his family and his heir.

there is little luke would not forgive him for, due to all this. corlys is one of the people luke would always try and see his perspective of matters ( the truth is, luke tends to do this with most people. there are some glaring exceptions that stand as a sore thumb because of how he closes off, but in general luke is infinitively understanding ). his first instinct is to think that he must have a reason and an explanation for anything. he has luke's eternal loyalty and love, due to how he behaved with him and his brothers.

[ the survival verse is infinitively more complicated if everything from canon from f&b remains ( there should be changes if luke doesn't die, primarily blood and cheese and erryk and arryk at the very least ). but corlys, upon rhaenys' death, argues with rhaenyra and tells her it should have been her. tells her she should have sent her children ( and considering how luke feels about his brothers, he would take issue with. especially with joffrey, the youngest of the three velaryon brothers ). and then the gullet happens ― and he seems to be regretful, later, but it'd be an issue. uses rhaenys' death to legitimize addam and alyn ― who luke likes, but it is a clear political move, and a show of power, and luke would see that. and in the end he betrays rhaenyra. and despite it all, in any survival verse, no matter who survives exactly, no matter if he becomes lord of driftmark or gets pushed aside as joffrey was in canon ― corlys' eventual death would shatter him. it would leave him a shade of who he was, for months. it is different from rhaenyra's ― that happened in a war, who was murdered, where he had to push forward for aegon iii. there is none of that in corlys' case, and with how much luke loved him ? it would be terrible ]