tjxtron

[tjxtron]

Jacaerys Velaryon "Pretty brown eyes, and a mind full of thoughts."

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"Jaime could imagine her inside, sitting by the hearth, her dark eyes hollow. She was always a shadow in the Red Keep, graceful and quiet, a fragile flower that had been plucked too soon and planted in foreign soil." -Jaime I, War of the Usurper (Fanfic I am working on)

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Mid Life Crisis: A Criston Cole psychological analysis

In the books, Criston Cole is presented as a knight obsessed with redeeming a singular dishonorable act: Sleeping with the princess. This singular focus on redemption ties closely with existentialist themes and shapes the course of every action he takes after. Criston whether you like him in the books or not, does not falter in his mentally after he sleeps with Rhaenyra. It particularly highlights the idea that individuals are fundamentally free and responsible for shaping their lives through their choices. Cole’s singular act, seen as dishonorable, becomes the axis around which his entire life revolves and he eventually goes onto become the "Kingmaker" as a result of this, in his own eyes fulfilling the greatness and honorability he believes he has. He embodies the existentialist crisis where one’s identity and morality are defined by personal choices rather than societal or divine mandates. His quest for redemption in the books is taken with extreme card and is explored in a very traditional lense.

Contrastingly, the show’s portrayal of Criston Cole as a character prone to multiple acts of oath-breaking introduces a different philosophical discussion—namely, the concept of self-sabotage and the cyclical nature of self-destructive behaviors. This deviation from a one-time failure to a pattern of failures explores themes of fatalism and determinism, where despite the apparent freedom to choose, Cole is repeatedly drawn to decisions that reaffirm his downfall. I think this affirmation of mine is further highlighted due to the fact he's lost his "king maker" title in the show, as his redemption of himself will probably never happen in the show. I think the writers are suggesting a psychological and almost tragic inevitability to his character, mainly using the age old idea between free will and determinism.

Both versions of Criston Cole explore the tension between individual agency and ethical responsibility. The book version aligns more with the concept of existential redemption—where redemption is a personal crusade to align one’s actions with a subjective moral compass. Meanwhile, the show version delves into the tragic flaw aspect of classical literature, where the protagonist (Or antagonist) is doomed to repeat his mistakes, potentially underscoring a pessimistic view of human nature and freedom.

In my humblest opinion....i fucking hate the show version of Criston, he's so bitchy n hypocritical.

[tjxtron]

What if you wanted to be KING but your niece and nephews were BASTARDS and your brother was GAY and STUPID and everyone HATED you and you couldn’t find a DENTIST for your teeth you ground down and a PRIESTESS told you to kill your DAUGHTER and a CLOWN was there

[tjxtron]

Damn Rhaenyra really grieving for Jaehaerys more than Otto is, huh?

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by far my favorite fake tweet i have ever made

[tjxtron]

lmaooo, yeah that's the point. It's not a good troll if you know it's a troll. You're good, you can leave it up 😭

Aerys II is an Amazing King

During the majority of his reign, the realm functioned with remarkable stability and efficiency. There were no significant conflicts, and each kingdom was governed by adept lords. Financially, the kingdom was prosperous: debts were settled and the treasury was abundant. Additionally, the Prince of Dragonstone was universally esteemed. On the whole, the state of affairs was quite favorable until the king committed the notorious murders of the Starks. Even subsequent to the Duskendale incident, the situation did not deteriorate severely. Despite the king’s inclination towards executing people and his increasing reclusiveness, the general operations of the realm remained largely undisturbed.

An indication of the relative peace during King Aerys II's rule can be discerned from the public perception of the Kingswood Brotherhood. Over time, this group of outlaws has been almost romanticized. This suggests that during his tenure, the realm was so well-managed that the most pressing issue was merely a band of outlaws residing in the forest.

In conclusion: One bad day, doesn't make your whole reign terrible.

[tjxtron]

This was a troll post.... 😭😭😭

Aerys II is an Amazing King

During the majority of his reign, the realm functioned with remarkable stability and efficiency. There were no significant conflicts, and each kingdom was governed by adept lords. Financially, the kingdom was prosperous: debts were settled and the treasury was abundant. Additionally, the Prince of Dragonstone was universally esteemed. On the whole, the state of affairs was quite favorable until the king committed the notorious murders of the Starks. Even subsequent to the Duskendale incident, the situation did not deteriorate severely. Despite the king’s inclination towards executing people and his increasing reclusiveness, the general operations of the realm remained largely undisturbed.

An indication of the relative peace during King Aerys II's rule can be discerned from the public perception of the Kingswood Brotherhood. Over time, this group of outlaws has been almost romanticized. This suggests that during his tenure, the realm was so well-managed that the most pressing issue was merely a band of outlaws residing in the forest.

In conclusion: One bad day, doesn't make your whole reign terrible.

[tjxtron]

My Love Letter to Dunk and Egg

From the very first moment I encountered the tales of Dunk and Egg, I felt an immediate connection, as if the narrative was a reflection of my own life’s journey. In a series where brotherhood is seen everywhere and used in many ways, i find it poetic that the best representation of brotherhood is between and a low born knight and outcasted prince.

Dunk’s story starts with him standing over the grave of his mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, the only father figure he ever had. In a way, I’ve been in Dunk’s shoes, finding myself alone and trying to make something of myself without much guidance. Dunk decides to carry on Ser Arlan’s legacy, living by the values of a true knight despite his humble beginnings.

As Dunk travels and faces countless challenges, he meets Egg, a young boy who becomes his squire. Dunk doesn’t know that Egg is actually Aegon Targaryen, a prince. This twist is profound because Dunk finds in Egg not just a helper, but a brother. Their relationship, built on mutual respect and loyalty, is the heart of their adventures and the heart of the narrative.

In my own life, I found my “Egg” too—a friend who turned into family. This person, like Egg, showed up unexpectedly and became a rock for me. Together, we’ve faced life’s storms, tackling challenges that seemed impossible. I miss him everyday and this post is as much about him as it is about a series I hold dear to my heart.

I can attest to this claim I will put forth: With such a deep bond comes an equally deep fear—the fear of losing each other. For Dunk, the thought of losing Egg was unbearable. Egg wasn’t just his squire; he was the little brother he never had, the family he always longed for. Every time they faced danger, Dunk’s heart ached with the fear that something might happen to Egg. The world they lived in was treacherous, filled with wars, treachery, and unforeseen threats. The stakes were always high, and the risks were real.

I tell you right now that pain, it's unbearable. That lost of a brother, of that companion you see as family. There were moments when Dunk’s fear for Egg’s safety overshadowed everything else. The idea of failing to protect him, of seeing harm come to the one person who meant the world to him, was a constant, gnawing worry. I must envy this, cause Dunk would no matter what, always found a way to save his brother. Dunk knew that losing Egg would shatter him. It would be like losing a part of himself, a part he could never replace.

Egg, on the other hand, had his own fears. Despite his royal blood and the destiny that awaited him, Egg feared losing Dunk, the one person who saw him for who he truly was—not just a prince, but a boy seeking his place in the world. Dunk’s straightforward honesty and genuine care were a sanctuary for Egg. The thought of Dunk not being there, of facing the world without his brother by his side, was a fear that lurked in the back of his mind.

Their brotherhood was their greatest strength and their greatest vulnerability. It made them brave, but it also made them vulnerable to the deepest kind of pain—the pain of loss. Yet, it was this very fear that made their bond all the more precious. It reminded them of the value of what they had, of how rare and beautiful true brotherhood is.

This art above by Hazem Ameen is truly an expression of what the story is about, to lift others up, especially your brothers. When Dunk kneels before Egg, now King Aegon V Targaryen, and is appointed the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, it’s an emotional moment. It’s the culmination of their journey, the fulfillment of their shared dreams. In my own life, I’ve had moments of triumph that felt just as significant, where the support and love of my closest friend made all the difference.

Dunk’s life before meeting Egg was one of solitude and struggle. He had no family, no true friends, only the dream of becoming a knight like his mentor, Ser Arlan. When Egg came into his life, everything changed. Egg wasn’t just a squire; he was a companion, a confidant, and soon, a brother. In the end, the story of Dunk and Egg is a testament to the power of friendship and the courage it takes to care deeply for someone. Their brotherhood taught me that true companionship is worth every risk and that the fear of loss is a part of loving someone deeply. Dunk and Egg’s journey is a poignant reminder that while the fear of losing a brother can be overwhelming, the strength gained from such a bond is what makes life truly meaningful.

[tjxtron]

saera targaryen lys outfits (not historically accurate)

[tjxtron]

The Weirwood Files: Rhaewin (Rhaenyra x Harwin)

Subject: A defense of Harwin Strong and an analysis of his relationship with Rhaenyra.

I want my first real post to be a deep dive into the beautiful relationship that is Rhaenyra x Harwin, a relationship that team green considers shameful, while team black (mostly staunch daemyras), finds it shallow and boring. I believe both interpretations are incorrect, as even with their limited screen time together, Emma and Ryan managed to tell a beautiful love story, even in just the way they looked at one another. With a single look, so much was said without a word being spoken. 

One thing that Rhaewin has begun to get criticism for lately, is the idea that Harwin is no better than any other man in Rhaenyra’s life, that he too has groomed and taken advantage of her, that perhaps he is no “saint” as he seems to be treated by the fandom. 

The truth is, there is nothing within the canon to suggest this. The first moment we get between them is when we see Harwin giving Rhaenyra an encouraging look after she returns from killing the boar. Nothing here implies he is lusting after her. Instead, Harwin merely just stands out as being the only one at the hunt to look at her with admiration while everyone stares in confusion or judgment. 

The next two scenes we are given of them also definitely don’t have any hint of predatory behavior from Harwin. He runs into her after she snuck out with Daemon and presumably decides to keep her secret, and the one after that he carries her away out of the chaos during her wedding after being given permission by his father, the hand. 

There is no canon evidence to support Harwin groomed her. Grooming implies a pattern of behavior over time that we do not see from Harwin. He and Rhaenyra have no pre existing relationship before they conceive Jace, Harwin does not even put himself forward for her hand during her marriage tour. Harwin does not commit any predatory actions towards Rhaenyra. 

This quote by Sara Hess is the closest we have to an official canonical description of Harwin, and while granted, Hess has said her fair share of questionable things in the past, there is nothing in the canon that disputes what she said. 

“He’s one of the more unambiguous characters, he’s just a good dude. You don’t see him off doing morally questionable things, which almost everybody else is doing. They’re so flawed and human and messy. He was able to be a paragon of decency and generosity and handsome strength. He’s one of the guys you could just love and feel great about loving and then he’s ripped from you too soon, before he does anything that could fuck that up for you. He’s our perfect angel.”

With this settled, I want to move on to their actual love story. We know they did not have much time together before they conceived Jace, considering the timeline of events. What we can put together at least, is that Rhaenyra was in a vulnerable position with Laenor. After they tried several times to conceive and failed, she needed to secure her position quickly and found solace in Harwin, who proved himself to be one of the only trusted figures she had in court. 

The next time we see Rhaewin is after the time jump. They have already had two beautiful sons together and another has just been born. Despite this implied intimacy, they have to hide their affections, only able to give each other coy smiles and a playful line here and there. Harwin holds their newborn son and Rhaenyra looks at the sight with adoration, yet also a hint of sadness, as if she is thinking of a world where they could be open about their love. In the night, they are in each other’s arms and make sons, princes of the realm. Yet in the day, these stolen moments are all they can afford.

The next time we see Harwin, he points out Criston Cole’s lack of care in his son’s training. He attempts to teach Jace as distantly as he can, and it is very clear he is increasingly frustrated with only being able to go so far in his son’s teachings. In the end, Cole still provokes him, and Harwin unleashes his anger on him. All the pain and frustration of only being able to love Rhaenyra and their children from afar is let out in the form of this beatdown on Cole. 

It would not follow without consequence however. Harwin is ordered to leave his position as Commander of the City Watch and go back to Harrenhal, away from Rhaenyra, away from their sons. Ryan Corr does an amazing job in this scene and you can just feel his utter devotion when he says one of my favorite lines from the show “you have your honor, and I have mine”. 

In a world where conceiving bastards is considered sinful and shameful, Harwin sees their union as one of love and honor. His sons are not treacherous reminders of sin and lust, but worthy princes born of love.

Rhaenyra and Harwin’s final scene together is one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the show. Rhaenyra is losing one of the only trusted figures she has in court, the man she sought comfort in and who fathered her three sons, and Harwin is losing everything that means the most to him. And once again, despite the privacy, despite the fact that this is their last moment together, they still cannot be open about their love. There is no final kiss goodbye, not even a hug. There is only a single look between them that says all we need to know, and a hopeful promise that Harwin will return. 

One of the most tragic things about this scene is that Jacaerys picks up on everything between them. He sees the looks shared between them, the desire for a hug or a kiss, he sees it all and he knows what it means. His mother and father have a love story that they can never tell anyone about, not even their own son. 

TL;DR: Rhaewin is a beautiful yet tragic twist on the knight and princess love story trope. Those that see this relationship as shameful have had their brains rotted by team discourse who buy into the “bastardphobia” present in universe (despite the fact that that is constantly criticized by the narrative itself), and wave it away as a “mistake”. There is nothing at all shameful about their relationship, and their sons were not made of sin, but of love. Rhaewin is also far from boring or shallow, to say this is to insult the work done by Emma and Ryan. There is a very beautiful, and rich love story between these two characters for those that have eyes to see it.

[tjxtron]

Congratulations you used a scan of Mushroom making a fraudulent testimony as he's not in kings landing at the time. It says in had same paragraph "let's just put that to mushroom bring mushroom". The Imbecile gif really becoming comedic irony

And no i never said the events you described didn't happen, I said you're purposely misconstruing them. A very illogical fallacy taking place called: Fallacy of Misinterpretation. Use a false or misleading representation of the truth, Inductive Fallacy.

Your misrepresentations are so bad you're no longer saying the objective truth. Like yes Jace pushed luke outta frustration, which is an objective claim and the factual truth. However what you're doing is now saying "Like, remember how he beats the living shit out of his little brother when they’re training at the beach, kicks him to the ground and grabs him by the throat because he is upset their uncles are better warriors than them" is a insanely miscount of what actually happened.

Also yet again like i said theres not a single child character, who gets criticized by using an adult standards in the very awful you do. Not even, Aegon, Aemond, or Daeron (to which I defend Daeron all the time for this reason). I also never said they were perfect, i'm just pointing out how fallaciously inconsistent and dumbfounded your argument is.

Every time Team Black stans talk about Rhaenyra’s bastards and the Dragon Twins as if they’re blessings upon this earth, an angel loses its wings.

Like, okay. They’re children, I’m excusing all of them up to a certain point. But they’re some of the most vicious, aggressive, cowardly, snotty brats we’ve ever seen in this franchise and pretending that they’re not is so foul.

Lucerys is a hypocritical twat that bullied the boy he grew up with because he didn’t have a dragon, but then he’s totally okay hanging out with Rhaena who doesn’t have one either. And then he pulls out a knife and blinds Aemond for no fucking reason, after his gang attacked him first, and faces zero consequences for his actions. He eventually grows up to become an even worse person by literally laughing in his cousin’s face, whom he disabled. And then he tries to boss lord Borros around by telling him that he’s obligated to ally with Rhaenyra even if there isn’t anything in him for it.

Jacaerys is also very two faced for the exact same reasons as Lucerys, with the addition of having anger management issues. Like, remember how he beats the living shit out of his little brother when they’re training at the beach, kicks him to the ground and grabs him by the throat because he is upset their uncles are better warriors than them? That’s the good future king you’re all talking about? He is already obsessed with the idea of becoming king, to the point that his own mother has to remind him that she’s actually alive and well and he would have to wait a good fucking while before his dreams come true. That’s actually so sick on his behalf. Not to mention that he very likely married Sara Snow, betraying his fiancée, in order to gain the Starks’ help, which is very dishonourable. At least Lucerys told Borros he’s betrothed and refused to marry one of his daughters to get his support, I’ll give him that.

Baela is a deranged evil girl who was ready to throw hands on sight, too. And have we forgotten that she becomes a drunkard and whoremonger who spends her money gambling in the rat pits, the places where children fight one another in King’s Landing, once she grows up, or is it wrong only when Aegon II does it?

Rhaena is an aggressive coward who seems more preoccupied with the acquisition of a dragon than her mother’s death. She didn’t have the guts to go and claim Vhagar, but she feels powerful enough to confront Aemond when she has three people backing her up.

Finally, even without taking all of their problematic traits into account, these people are so severely uninteresting and unimpressive. Lucerys does not convince Borros to side with his mother and drops dead like a fly. Joffrey gets shrugged off by Syrax and plummets to his demise. Jacaerys is immediately killed during his embarrassing attempt to fight the Triarchy, not to mention that he was the reason his youngest half siblings were captured and nearly killed because he had the brilliant idea of sending them away. Baela loses the only dragon fight she was ever part of to Aegon II and Sunfyre who were very injured by a previous fight already! And Rhaena is just… there. Doing nothing. Never avenging her husband’s death, eventually marrying a Hightower. Yikes.

Are there much more ill behaved children in ASOIAF? Yeah, for sure, but we actually acknowledge that children like Aegon II and Joffrey Baratheon are pieces of shit. But if we could like, stop glorifying these four mediocre and borderline malicious kids solely because some of you feel the need to ride the dicks of everyone who is part of Rhaenyra’s crew, that would be great. They might be children, but they’re children with shady, putting it mildly, personalities, wielding new-clear weapons of mass destruction who actively participated in a war, especially Jacaerys and Baela. They sure were victims of the world they were raised in, but they were aggressors as well. And like, this is the ASOIAF universe, nearly all of our protagonists are children. We can’t constantly apply modern day morals and coddle them forever because “OMG, they are just babies!”, unless we are ready to apply the same logic on the Targtowers, who were basically the same age as Rhaenyra and Daemon’s children.

[tjxtron]

Every time Team Black stans talk about Rhaenyra’s bastards and the Dragon Twins as if they’re blessings upon this earth, an angel loses its wings.

Like, okay. They’re children, I’m excusing all of them up to a certain point. But they’re some of the most vicious, aggressive, cowardly, snotty brats we’ve ever seen in this franchise and pretending that they’re not is so foul.

Lucerys is a hypocritical twat that bullied the boy he grew up with because he didn’t have a dragon, but then he’s totally okay hanging out with Rhaena who doesn’t have one either. And then he pulls out a knife and blinds Aemond for no fucking reason, after his gang attacked him first, and faces zero consequences for his actions. He eventually grows up to become an even worse person by literally laughing in his cousin’s face, whom he disabled. And then he tries to boss lord Borros around by telling him that he’s obligated to ally with Rhaenyra even if there isn’t anything in him for it.

Jacaerys is also very two faced for the exact same reasons as Lucerys, with the addition of having anger management issues. Like, remember how he beats the living shit out of his little brother when they’re training at the beach, kicks him to the ground and grabs him by the throat because he is upset their uncles are better warriors than them? That’s the good future king you’re all talking about? He is already obsessed with the idea of becoming king, to the point that his own mother has to remind him that she’s actually alive and well and he would have to wait a good fucking while before his dreams come true. That’s actually so sick on his behalf. Not to mention that he very likely married Sara Snow, betraying his fiancée, in order to gain the Starks’ help, which is very dishonourable. At least Lucerys told Borros he’s betrothed and refused to marry one of his daughters to get his support, I’ll give him that.

Baela is a deranged evil girl who was ready to throw hands on sight, too. And have we forgotten that she becomes a drunkard and whoremonger who spends her money gambling in the rat pits, the places where children fight one another in King’s Landing, once she grows up, or is it wrong only when Aegon II does it?

Rhaena is an aggressive coward who seems more preoccupied with the acquisition of a dragon than her mother’s death. She didn’t have the guts to go and claim Vhagar, but she feels powerful enough to confront Aemond when she has three people backing her up.

Finally, even without taking all of their problematic traits into account, these people are so severely uninteresting and unimpressive. Lucerys does not convince Borros to side with his mother and drops dead like a fly. Joffrey gets shrugged off by Syrax and plummets to his demise. Jacaerys is immediately killed during his embarrassing attempt to fight the Triarchy, not to mention that he was the reason his youngest half siblings were captured and nearly killed because he had the brilliant idea of sending them away. Baela loses the only dragon fight she was ever part of to Aegon II and Sunfyre who were very injured by a previous fight already! And Rhaena is just… there. Doing nothing. Never avenging her husband’s death, eventually marrying a Hightower. Yikes.

Are there much more ill behaved children in ASOIAF? Yeah, for sure, but we actually acknowledge that children like Aegon II and Joffrey Baratheon are pieces of shit. But if we could like, stop glorifying these four mediocre and borderline malicious kids solely because some of you feel the need to ride the dicks of everyone who is part of Rhaenyra’s crew, that would be great. They might be children, but they’re children with shady, putting it mildly, personalities, wielding new-clear weapons of mass destruction who actively participated in a war, especially Jacaerys and Baela. They sure were victims of the world they were raised in, but they were aggressors as well. And like, this is the ASOIAF universe, nearly all of our protagonists are children. We can’t constantly apply modern day morals and coddle them forever because “OMG, they are just babies!”, unless we are ready to apply the same logic on the Targtowers, who were basically the same age as Rhaenyra and Daemon’s children.

[tjxtron]

The moment Alicent put a crown on Aegon’s head, she set a timer on his life. She killed her own son, for nothing. I hope she realized that in the end. I hope she realized that her children all died horrible deaths because of her.

[tjxtron]

No the child pits and rat pits aren't the same thing.

Also if you're only counter what i can say is throwing insults without providing a proper not over exaggerated and misconstrued response, than this was a great talk. Hope you get that help soon

Every time Team Black stans talk about Rhaenyra’s bastards and the Dragon Twins as if they’re blessings upon this earth, an angel loses its wings.

Like, okay. They’re children, I’m excusing all of them up to a certain point. But they’re some of the most vicious, aggressive, cowardly, snotty brats we’ve ever seen in this franchise and pretending that they’re not is so foul.

Lucerys is a hypocritical twat that bullied the boy he grew up with because he didn’t have a dragon, but then he’s totally okay hanging out with Rhaena who doesn’t have one either. And then he pulls out a knife and blinds Aemond for no fucking reason, after his gang attacked him first, and faces zero consequences for his actions. He eventually grows up to become an even worse person by literally laughing in his cousin’s face, whom he disabled. And then he tries to boss lord Borros around by telling him that he’s obligated to ally with Rhaenyra even if there isn’t anything in him for it.

Jacaerys is also very two faced for the exact same reasons as Lucerys, with the addition of having anger management issues. Like, remember how he beats the living shit out of his little brother when they’re training at the beach, kicks him to the ground and grabs him by the throat because he is upset their uncles are better warriors than them? That’s the good future king you’re all talking about? He is already obsessed with the idea of becoming king, to the point that his own mother has to remind him that she’s actually alive and well and he would have to wait a good fucking while before his dreams come true. That’s actually so sick on his behalf. Not to mention that he very likely married Sara Snow, betraying his fiancée, in order to gain the Starks’ help, which is very dishonourable. At least Lucerys told Borros he’s betrothed and refused to marry one of his daughters to get his support, I’ll give him that.

Baela is a deranged evil girl who was ready to throw hands on sight, too. And have we forgotten that she becomes a drunkard and whoremonger who spends her money gambling in the rat pits, the places where children fight one another in King’s Landing, once she grows up, or is it wrong only when Aegon II does it?

Rhaena is an aggressive coward who seems more preoccupied with the acquisition of a dragon than her mother’s death. She didn’t have the guts to go and claim Vhagar, but she feels powerful enough to confront Aemond when she has three people backing her up.

Finally, even without taking all of their problematic traits into account, these people are so severely uninteresting and unimpressive. Lucerys does not convince Borros to side with his mother and drops dead like a fly. Joffrey gets shrugged off by Syrax and plummets to his demise. Jacaerys is immediately killed during his embarrassing attempt to fight the Triarchy, not to mention that he was the reason his youngest half siblings were captured and nearly killed because he had the brilliant idea of sending them away. Baela loses the only dragon fight she was ever part of to Aegon II and Sunfyre who were very injured by a previous fight already! And Rhaena is just… there. Doing nothing. Never avenging her husband’s death, eventually marrying a Hightower. Yikes.

Are there much more ill behaved children in ASOIAF? Yeah, for sure, but we actually acknowledge that children like Aegon II and Joffrey Baratheon are pieces of shit. But if we could like, stop glorifying these four mediocre and borderline malicious kids solely because some of you feel the need to ride the dicks of everyone who is part of Rhaenyra’s crew, that would be great. They might be children, but they’re children with shady, putting it mildly, personalities, wielding new-clear weapons of mass destruction who actively participated in a war, especially Jacaerys and Baela. They sure were victims of the world they were raised in, but they were aggressors as well. And like, this is the ASOIAF universe, nearly all of our protagonists are children. We can’t constantly apply modern day morals and coddle them forever because “OMG, they are just babies!”, unless we are ready to apply the same logic on the Targtowers, who were basically the same age as Rhaenyra and Daemon’s children.

[tjxtron]

mind you if we were to look at things from the other side, catelyn stark in agot wanted to make peace even after the lannisters killed her husband. because she wanted her daughters back more than she wanted revenge and she saw surrender as the inevitable way to get that.

so i think this idea that we as an audience are meant to just laugh at alicent for writing to rhaenyra after lucerys' death is really questionable. mind you, we dont know exactly what those letters said in the first place. alicent may very well have been offering rhaenyra the chance to negotiate renewed terms in light of luke's death if she chose to bend the knee and not retaliate.

furthermore people somehow don't realize that alicent is not naive enough to think her letters to rhaenyra alone will be enough to deter her from attacking the city. she knows that they need vaghar at the moment and guess what she's right because daemon in that same episode is shown wanting to attack kingslanding on caraxes with rhaenys' meleys because rhaenyra has the "audacity" to be busy grieving her son.

another reason why i think catelyn is relevant to this convo is that we actually see her "choose" between her kids. she betrays her son the king in order to potentially get her daughters back even if it means losing a hostage in jaime lannister. therefore, i dont think its an unreasonable for alicent to at least hope that between seeking revenge for her dead son or ensuring the safety of her remaining children by giving up her crown, that rhaenyra will choose the latter. of course, we as the audience know that won't happen, and alicent demonstrates deep down that she knows it too.

[tjxtron]

13 years since Jon got his period HARD and then GRRM left him cold in the snow without a pad or anything. CRUEL!