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my fave writing reminder

honestly, this phrase has been on my mind more times than i can count. i've kidnapped it, taken it as a hostage with no ransom money because i need it to live permanently in my head.

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Link Here

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: House of the Dragon (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings 

Relationships: Alicent Hightower/Rhaenyra Targaryen, Rhaenyra Targaryen/Laena Velaryon (Daughter of Corlys), Alicent Hightower/Baelon Targaryen (Son of Viserys I) 

Characters: Alicent Hightower, Rhaenyra Targaryen, Laena Velaryon (Daughter of Corlys), Baelon Targaryen (Son of Jaehaerys I), Otto Hightower, Viserys I Targaryen, Daemon Targaryen, Steffon Tyrell (Original Character), Jacaerys Velaryon, Baela Targaryen, Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Daemon), Aegon II Targaryen, Helaena Targaryen, Aemond "One-Eye" Targaryen, Rhaenys Targaryen Velaryon, Corlys "The Sea Snake" Velaryon, Criston Cole, Harwin Strong, Laenor Velaryon, Larys Strong, Original Characters 

Additional Tags: Not Canon Compliant, Canon-Typical Violence, Alicent Hightower Is Not the Greens' Mother, Aemma Arryn Is the Greens' Mother, Married Rhaenyra Targaryen/Laena Velaryon (Daughter of Corlys), Past Alicent Hightower/Original Character(s), Alicent Has a Son From a Previous Marriage, Baelon Targaryen (Son of Viserys I) Lives, Baelon Is Older Than Rhaenyra, Alternate Dance of the Dragons | War for Succession Happens Between Different Factions (ASoIaF), Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha Rhaenyra Targaryen, Omega Alicent Hightower, Omega Laena Velaryon (Daughter of Corlys), Beta Baelon Targaryen (Son of Viserys I), Smut, Slow Burn, Politics, Enemies to Lovers, Infidelity, Adultery, Dysfunctional Family, Dark, Possessive Behavior, Dubious Morality, POV Alternating, POV Multiple, Rashomon Effect, Unreliable Narrator, Worldbuilding, Renaissance Westeros, legit only because i like the outfits, Author Is Sleep Deprived 

Summary: When news of a murdered ambassador and possible war, reaches her father's ears, Alicent Hightower -- a widowed omega, mother, and Lord Chamberlain of the King's Household -- is thrust into the line of sight of the brooding crown prince, Baelon Targaryen, who still mourns the losses of his two spouses and six children.

Rhaenyra Targaryen, the Realm's Delight, the subject of songs and mummers plays -- the king's wild and estranged alpha daughter is summoned to King's Landing with her perfect wife Laena Velaryon, and their children, after seven years away to attend a tourney for her brother's thirtieth nameday.

When Rhaenyra meets Alicent, she smells a snake in the grass. And to Alicent, Rhaenyra is a dangerous threat to her son's future.

They hate each other.

Until they don't.

--

Or:

Rhaenyra and Alicent have an affair and destroy everything around them.

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unless they specifically asked, you don’t get to tell a fanfic writer you think they mischaracterized the character by the way. because the second someone writes a fanfic about a character, that character becomes the writer’s own version of the character. canon is only a suggestion, but whether or not an author will follow it / how much of canon an author will take is entirely up to them. you don’t get to stick your nose in their world and tell them “hey this is not to my liking therefore I think you’re doing it wrong” when you can simply leave quietly and move on to something else you may enjoy

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I see it tbh

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Rhaenyra and Alicent flying on Syrax

By marina.ab.art 

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I think alot more people would enjoy the show if they learned to see Rhaenyra and Alicent as Unreliable Narrators, and characters who are supposed to have glaring flaws and weaknesses.

Mandatory preface- There are Issues™️ with season 2 that are its own other ask- but the complaints ive seen about character assassination on both women kind of tells me ppl just wanted to see the two just GirlBossing around, not being tragic characters trapped in their own circumstances.

For Alicent specifically- she just isn't written to be Cersei 2.0, and while it was really interesting to see motherhood from cersei's point of view, its already been done!! I actually prefer seeing Alicent's mercurial clinging to and abandoning motherhood- its interesting!! She was made a mother at what- 15? An age where you truly arent mentally developed enough to raise 3 kids, AND be a child bride, AND be a queen, (AND be a lesbian).

Alicent is interesting to me because she's stunted at 15 years old, she's an adult woman who talks to and sometimes bullies her kids as if they are her peers, and is obsessed with her childhood crush(es). She hasn't built any new relationships* past the ones she was entangled with as a teenager, she's obsessed with both acting out to make SOMEONE see that shes suffering, (she's honestly pretty blatant for someone who prides themselves on being the Temperate Voice of Reason) but also to erase herself and reset to before she had to marry the king, before aemma died.

I think most of her 'bad out of character' decisions are just these two impulses winning out, her trying to force a reset, go back to a time where none of this had happened yet, when things were simpler and she had love and every day wasn't the worst day of her life™️.

She sleeps with cole, the man she thought was pretty at 15 (her last uncomplicated attraction just before it all went wrong and aemma died) -she doesnt seem to like it that much, but she does seem compelled to seek him out, esp when upset- shes obsessed with, and desperate to reconnect with Rhaenyra, her childhood best friend (and first love) and get back to where they were as kids, AND she still treats and asks her father for absolution as if he's still the only authority that matters to her just like she did at 15. Alot of her 'victim complex/bewildered they took it so far' behaviour in the plotting of rhaenyra's usurption reads to me like a teenager in over her head, she talked big game and now its real and shes panicking!! She's tragic BECAUSE she's still a teenager- so stunted shes unable to meaningfully grow up and learn to make healthier choices for herself, or move on and stop trying to grasp at the 'if i could just go back' urge.

As a mother, I think this creates an interesting dynamic as well, and I do like that in the casting even, she seems closer in age to her kids than rhaenyra does to hers. I think the contrast ppl are drawing with Alicent Protecting Her Kids in season1 compared to her giving them up in season two isn't bad writing to me, just massive differences in context. Sure she protected Aemond in driftmark, but we cant ignore that she probably felt humiliated by her husband choosing rhaenyra's side over hers in front of everyone, did it seem like a grown woman fighting for her son?? or a teenager furious with her ex winning one over her again? or both!! both sides twisted together is still interesting! When she protected Aegon from Rhaenys, is stepping in front of her son the king to protect him from the enemies dragon fire not the most romantic daydream of a deserving death a child bride could come up with?? Was it the impulse to protect the son she couldnt decide if she loved or hated, or was it to have the most heroic death possible to escape the reality that she sees coming. And if Rhaenyra hears about how Brave she was in the face of a dragons maw, and cries about it forever and feels sooo bad and regrets it til the day she dies, thats an added bonus. I think Alicent loves her kids, but is teenager selfish about HOW she loves and protects her kids, and is unable to be a mature, consistant, protective mother to them when she also sees them as having ruined her life. I think in season 2 when she 'gives them up' shes relieved, and once again following the compulsion of 'if i reset to when Rhaenyra was heir, i had no sons, and i wasn't married or queen, everything will be better'. I think theres complexity to it, i think she does love her sons and feels insane about it, but I think Alicent has been trying to Go Back in more and more Intense ways ever since she got married, and we might be giving her sanity more credit than it deserves when it comes to the need to wipe the board clean and go back to being 15.

hey anon are you trying to get married to me or what

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the look of love (for writers)

"it's all in the eyes i was once told"

catching the stare of someone across a crowded room

subtle furrowing of eyebrows beyond a blank facade

coldness easing into warmth

a fond mothering gaze

corner of the lip nudged upward

forced glower/glare as they break underneath

batting their lashes, playful

a boisterous laugh

intrigue piercing the stoic

proud smugness at the other's success

lingering glances

a childish joy bursting through

pupils dilate

eyelids shut in a look of peace, calm and trust

look of longing/betrayal

"there was once a time when they were mine"

terseness

features fold into a scowl

an urgent flinching back

coldness returns (as though the warmth had never come)

lips part then purse

invasion of shock

slow stare at the floor

the ripple effect of a swallow

frustrated breath/sigh

bitter laugh in reminiscence

dread tearing through the seams of their composure

look of hatred

"darkness"

mean smirk- teeth bared grimace- scowl

dismissive gaze

gaze of contempt/impatience

threat lowering the voice

sardonic goading grins verging on manic

rolling one's eyes

flicker of irritation in the eyes

stares stubbornly ahead despite distraction

gritted teeth, clenched jaw

fierce biting remarks

even measured complexions betraying no thought

strangling oneself back from violence

utter apathy

murderous silence hanging in the stare

snobbish laughter

smiling at another's downfall

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Rhaenicent in Formula 1 AU

Literally no one asked for this but idgaf

Rhaenyra Targaryen - Ferrari

-> Born into a wealthy and renowned family of known F1 drivers (Her grandfather used to own the Ferrari team. Viserys, her dad used to be the team's manager. Daemon, her uncle used to drive for Ferrari during those times but was removed from his seat for endangering his and other drivers' life.)

-> She is aggressive in the track and has been involved in quite a lot of crashes.

-> Rhaenyra likes to be referred as Nyra. She thinks Rhaenyra is a mouthful.

-> Nyra has also joined Formula Drift for a short while but she came back to Formula 1.

-> Her and Alicent go way back to Kart racing. They've always been in opposing teams but they're always seen together. Whether it's in interviews or podiums.

-> Rhaenyra has been involved in some physical altercations and has punched another driver before.

-> Viserys owns the team she's racing for so she doesn't really get that punished when it comes to breaking a few points here and there.

-> Such a flirt to interviewers.

-> Plenty of videos of her about to fight another driver when they crash into her or cause her disqualification.

-> I cannot emphasize how close she is to Alicent like she could be seen at the Aston Martin garage and Rhaenyra has pranked her on camera by secretly putting Ferrari stickers on her back. This is a big issue to Otto Hightower who is the strategist of his daughter's team, Aston Martin.

Alicent Hightower - Aston Martin

-> She's born into a wealthy family as well but they're not very well-known to the racing world.

-> Her older brother, Gwayne is another retired racer but only because his seat is taken from him now and he's been replaced.

-> Otto is her team's strategist. He has been ever since Gwayne started racing. He only joined when Gwayne started.

-> Alicent has tried horse-riding as a child but isn't really competitive about it. She was introduced to the world of racing by her brother.

-> She is quite smooth when it comes to her racing style. Alicent is quite sneaky and you'd think you got the lead then bam Alicent would speed off pass you. She probably has smoothly passed two cars.

-> Rarely involved in dramas and scandals but she'd sometimes just stare off the space and carefully choose her words when interviewers ask about it.

-> Before races and media press, you could see Alicent waiting for Rhaenyra to finish her interviews on the background.

-> She'd swear in the radio here and there but she usually laughs like a maniac when someone tries to push her off or something.

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Legit me lmao, they got me bad

Another day, another reverse age gap Rhaenicent thought.

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i know it's a fun fandom trope that jealous!alicent is just a feral housecat who's wet and tired and is always a hair's breadth away from biting someone's ankles -- but can we talk about jealous!rhaenyra tho?

girl legit had one of the biggest threats to her claim to the throne in her own house, unarmed and whimpering, and rhaenyra did not give a flying fuck about anything coming out of alicent's mouth until she heard the word "lover".

if alicent is a cat, then rhaenyra is a straight up dog. one track minded, goofy on her best days, but if you give her space to move, she'll tear someone's throat out and wag her tail while doing it.

alicent: I put my faith in my father, my husband, my lover, my son-

rhaenyra: lover?

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Blackfyre Records is an American record label owned by House of the Dragon Music Group (HOTD MG). Blackfyre is one of the oldest surviving brand names in the recorded sound business. It is also one of two of House of the Dragon Music Group’s flagship record labels: the other being its longtime rival, Oldtown Records.

Born out of the partnership of Uthero Zalyne, an Iron Bank partner, and Aerion Targaryen, Blackfyre Records was founded in 1916 as then named, Blackfyre Graphophone Company. By 1926, Blackfyre had a growing stable of jazz and blues artists and was on track to being the leading recording company in the country. But due to the stock market Crash of 1929 leading to huge losses in the recording industry, Zalyne sold his shares of Blackfyre to Draz & Co., another investment bank. When Draz & Co. was declared bankrupt in November 1931, Blackfyre, now independent and floundering, was put into receivership. In January of 1932, Aerion was prepared to sell the company to Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc., to be their in-house music label, but due to an untimely heart attack, his daughter, Visenya Targaryen, the only one of his three children to follow their father into the music business, took over as President and broke the deal off.

By 1967, Visenya became CEO of House of the Dragon, thus leaving the position of president to her son, former actor Maegor Targaryen. Following the appointment of Maegor, Blackfyre became more of a rock music label, thanks mainly to Maegor’s obsession with rock and roll in his youth. He signed several leading acts including Longclaw. Longclaw led the way for several generations of rock and rollers that would dominate the scene for a decade. However, Visenya still had a hand in traditional pop and jazz and one of its key acquisitions during this period was Gareth Tyrell. Gareth released his first solo album with Blackfyre in 1973 and remains with the label to this day.

And yet, despite being the man with Midas touch, Maegor’s personal life throughout his tenure had been highly controversial, known popularly as the “Dark Days”. From marrying a suspected Hollywood madam in a highly publicized TV wedding to converting to Mormonism in a bid to have a second wife, as well as rumors of emotional and physical abuse of his partners and being linked to the shooting of the son of a former business associate. Culminating in the spring of 1980 when Maegor was charged with the murder of one of his artists, Alys Harroway, leaving his half-brother Aenys Targaryen to act as Interim President.

In June of 1980, Visenya dies of old age, three weeks before Maegor’s sentencing hearing. At the news of his mother’s death, Maegor committed suicide by self-inflicted gunshot in the office of his Bel-Air mansion while released on bail.

Aenys, unable to handle pressures of being president of Blackfyre, hands in his resignation not long after in January of 1981. Jaehaerys Targaryen, then CEO of HOTD MG after Visenya, holds a vote to determine the next president. After a week of deliberation, Baelon is chosen to lead Blackfyre Records, over his older brother Aemon.

The appointment was met with confusion and frustration, with Baelon being quoted in the 1981 September edition of Time magazine saying “Maegor left a mess, and they handed it to me on a silver platter.” In order to handle the workload, Baelon recruited his sister Saera Targaryen to be the new Label Manager while he handled the corporate cleanup.

And while the 1980s saw the emergence of modern rock, becoming very popular, it was in the late 1980s that glam metal became the largest, most commercially successful brand of music worldwide. Off the back of this new mainstream appeal, Dark Sister, the brainchild of Baelon’s sons, Viserys and Daemon, was formed. And Saera, an avid cinephile and soap opera enthusiast used their band as a vehicle to market Blackfyre and Oldtown Records’ longtime rivalry to massive mainstream success. Yet by the mid-90s the popularity of many of Blackfyre’s glam metal artists had waned with only Dark Sister, Lamentation, and Brightroar maintaining theirs throughout the entire decade, largely by re-inventing themselves.

Blackfyre Records is currently run by Daemon Targaryen in a dual role as both Record Label Manager and President (Viserys previously stepped down due to health concerns).

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Let's Edit: Tightening the Plot

Sometimes, deleting a few words from the manuscript will not be enough to get an immersive story with no draggin bits.

Here are some ideas.

Delete Unnecessary Bits

Delete introspection. Whenever your POV spends time thinking, assessing, remembering, musing or emoting, cut the lot.

Delete the journey. Whenever your character spends time walking, driving, rising or flying to a place, cut it short.

Delete backstory. Readers need to know less backstory than you think.

Shrink the sequels. Sequels are paragraphs where the author shows how characters react to the action in the previous paragraph.

Tighten the Plot

Condense the timeframe. Instead of a year, make it three months. You will have to watch out for continuity errors (no three Christmases in a year, character ages, etc.)

Condense the geography. Instead of fights happening in five different locations, have them happen on one place.

Condense the characters. Whenever there are several people of a kind (two sisters, four colleagues), let there be just one. You can also combine characters - the gym instructor is also the noisy neighbor, the choir conductor is also the owner of that pesky cat.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* . ───

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i just feel like someone should take one for the team and write the fanfic where miss homotron goes to dragonstone on foot, meets her situationship’s new lover, and immediately goes like blind with jealousy and fury (rhaenyra, as always when alicent’s near, looks and behaves like a very confused kicked puppy)

i just need homotron and saphotron to meet, so the real war can begin

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Tips for writing a slowburn romance?

For any writers who enjoy the act of writing romances, we know that feeling of wanting to finally see our characters’ lips meet in that earth-shattering, star-aligning kiss. For some, sparks will fly immediately, but there is something so achingly satisfying about the tantalizing, exquisite torture of a slow-burn romance.

Mastering the slow burn isn’t just about slapping a “delayed gratification” sticker on your plot and calling it a day. It’s about choreographing a love story that unfolds with the grace and tension of a dance, each step building towards a satisfying finale. It’s about kindling a flame with lingering gazes across crowded rooms, accidental brushes of skin that send shivers down spines, and heart-to-hearts that reveal vulnerabilities and forge unbreakable bonds.

What is a slow burn romance?

A slow burn romance is a type of romance plot characterised by a gradual, organic development of feelings between characters. Unlike whirlwind romances or love-at-first-sight scenarios, slow-burn romances allow for a more in-depth exploration of characters’ emotions, insecurities, and personal growth.

This approach often involves a prolonged period of tension and anticipation, where the characters’ attraction simmers beneath the surface before finally coming to a boil. A slow burn romance allows readers to become deeply invested in the characters’ relationship, experiencing every moment of longing, doubt, and eventual realisation alongside them. It’s a delicate balance of push and pull, creating a rich tapestry of emotions that keeps readers eagerly turning pages, desperate to see the culmination of the characters’ romantic arc.

The critical elements of a slow burn romance

Character chemistry

The foundation of any thrilling slow burn romance is the undeniable chemistry between the characters. This doesn’t necessarily mean instant attraction, but rather a spark of connection that grows over time. It’s the way they challenge each other, complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and find themselves drawn together despite any obstacles.

A developing relationship

The slow burn romance thrives on the gradual evolution of the characters’ relationship. This development should be organic and believable, with each interaction deepening their connection. This slow progression allows readers to witness the characters falling in love in real time, making the eventual romantic payoff all the more satisfying.

The build-up of romantic tension

Romantic tension is the lifeblood of a slow burn romance. It’s the electric current that runs through every interaction, every shared glance, and every near-miss moment. This tension can be built through lingering touches, heated arguments, moments of vulnerability, situations that force characters into close proximity, and misunderstandings that create emotional distance while deepening desire.

The moment of realisation

In a slow burn romance, the moment when characters finally acknowledge their feelings is pivotal. This realization often comes after a series of events that force them to confront their emotions. This epiphany should feel earned and inevitable, the natural culmination of their journey together.

Popular slow burn romance tropes

Incorporating well-known tropes can help structure your slow burn romance and create familiar patterns that readers enjoy. These tropes provide a framework for building tension and developing the relationship gradually, creating obstacles, internal conflicts, or situations that force characters to confront their growing feelings.

Friends-to-Lovers

In this trope, characters start as friends, and their relationship gradually develops into a romantic one. This allows for a strong foundation of trust and understanding before romantic feelings emerge.

Enemies-to-Lovers

Characters initially dislike or have conflicts with each other, but over time, their feelings transform into love. This creates an exciting dynamic of tension and attraction.

Forbidden Love

Characters face obstacles or societal boundaries that prevent them from being together. This adds an element of conflict and heightens the anticipation of their eventual union.

Second Chance Romance

Characters have a history together, and their paths cross again, giving them a chance to rekindle their feelings. This allows for the exploration of past regrets and personal growth.

Opposites Attract

Characters have contrasting personalities or backgrounds, leading to initial friction but eventually finding common ground. This creates opportunities for character development and compromise.

Workplace Romance

Characters work together and initially keep their feelings hidden due to professional boundaries. This setting provides natural opportunities for interaction and tension.

How to write a slow burn

Now that we’ve explored the key elements of slow burn romance, let’s dive into some specific tips for writing this type of relationship:

1. Establish a strong foundation

Begin by developing well-rounded characters with clear goals, motivations, and flaws. This will make their journey towards love more believable and engaging. Create a backstory for each character that influences their approach to relationships. This history will inform their interactions and provide depth to their emotional journey.

2. Create obstacles

Introduce internal and external obstacles that keep the characters apart. These could be personal fears, misunderstandings, or external circumstances that prevent them from acting on their feelings. These obstacles create tension and conflict, driving the narrative forward while delaying the romantic resolution. Ensure that the barriers feel authentic and not contrived, as readers will quickly lose interest if the obstacles seem forced or unrealistic.

3. Build tension gradually

Layer small moments of intimacy and connection throughout your story. These can be subtle gestures, shared experiences, or meaningful conversations that deepen the characters’ bond. Use these moments to showcase the growing attraction and emotional connection between the characters, even if they’re not yet ready to acknowledge their feelings.

4. Use subtext

Not everything needs to be explicitly stated. Use subtext in dialogue and actions to hint at deeper feelings, allowing readers to read between the lines. This creates a sense of anticipation and allows readers to engage more deeply with the story. Use body language, facial expressions, and internal thoughts to convey unspoken emotions and desires and trust your readers to understand what you’re putting down.

5. Incorporate pivotal moments

Create key scenes that mark significant shifts in the characters’ relationship. These could be moments of vulnerability, shared triumphs, or near-misses that leave both characters (and readers) wanting more. These pivotal moments should intensify the emotional connection and romantic tension between the characters, pushing them closer to acknowledging their feelings.

6. Balance frustration and satisfaction

While the slow burn should create anticipation, be sure to provide moments of satisfaction along the way to keep readers engaged. These could be small victories or tender moments that hint at the potential for a deeper relationship.

7. Develop individual character arcs

Ensure that each character has their own growth arc alongside the developing romance. This personal development adds depth to the story and makes the eventual union more meaningful. As characters overcome their individual challenges, they become more ready for a committed relationship.

8. Use secondary characters wisely

Secondary characters can serve as confidants, obstacles, or catalysts in the developing romance. Use them to provide outside perspectives and to move the plot forward. Friends or family members can offer advice, push the main characters together, or create misunderstandings that add tension to the relationship. Be careful not to let secondary characters overshadow the main romance, but use them strategically to enhance the story.

9. Maintain consistent pacing

While the romance should develop slowly, ensure that the overall story maintains a steady pace. Balance romantic moments with plot developments, character growth, and other story elements to keep readers engaged throughout. Avoid long stretches without any romantic progression, as this can cause readers to lose interest.

10. Deliver a satisfying payoff

After all the buildup, ensure that the eventual coming together of the characters feels earned and satisfying. This doesn’t always mean a happily ever after, especially if you’re not specifically writing within the romance genre, but it should provide emotional resolution for the readers.