"Azriel's Threw A Party" Is So Real

"Azriel's threw a party" is so real 😭😭😭

Little shadows were like "HEY WE FOUND OUR MATE 💃🕺💃🕺" "She's so beautiful, Imma dance" " She has some power but I can't figure it out what is it 🧐🧐🧐" "IDK look at her eyes🥹🥹🥹"

”But Azriel’s powers reacted the same as Nesta’s in response to Gwyn.”

Me, throwing a dictionary at this line of thought because singing and dancing are not the same as grumbling, and antis clearly need all the help they can get:

Nesta’s powers grumbled like a beast that was slightly disturbed by another powerful being.

Azriel’s threw a party.

Sarah is just taking this long to write the damn book because she can't decide if it's Gwynriel or Elucien 🙏

Azriel had his shadows since he was a little tiny boy, locked away in a small room with no windows, feeling unloved and uncared for.

The shadows were not a part of his trauma, they actually may have been one of the reasons he survived through his trauma.

They are his company, his little spies, a literal manifestation of his powers and honestly, very loveable little beings. The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Azriel is that he is a Shadowsinger.

AND Y'ALL WANT THESE SHADOWS TO DISAPPEAR?

Let me tell you something: That's exactly why I don't ship e/riel. Because, if they were to truly be happy together, someone (or both) would have to give up in such essential parts of themselves that they wouldn't be the same person.

Elain would have to give up on traveling around the world and planting gardens everywhere. She would have to give up on glamorous parties because her partner is an introvert and terrifies everyone in Prithyan except his family and the people who want to fuck him (I'm looking at you Helion). She would not live somewhere sunny all the time and take walks in the nature.

Azriel? Apparently, he has to give up his shadows. He will have to hide the darkest parts of himself, not because Elain can't deal with it, but because he is clearly extra-self conscious and ashamed of those parts around her. He would forever feel afraid of "tainting" her or scaring her away, because he clearly doesn't consider her someone capable of dealing with darkness. He would have to give up on having a mate.

IN ORDER OF THIS SHIP TO WORK, THEY NEED TO BE DIFFERENT CHARACTERS.

Spoiler ahead: these characters already exist.

I don't ship Gwynriel and Elucien because I'm anti-elain or some other bullshit. I ship it because I love these characters and I want to see them grow without needing to become something completely different from what they are.

I don't need gentleman, well dressed Azriel because LUCIEN IS THERE.

I don't need warrior, bloodthirsty Elain because GWYN IS THERE.

Honestly, it's so very simple it hurts.

This shit is so annoying.

Stop diminishing a great woman character because she's a threat to your ship.

Gywn is so much more than a fucking love interest. And it's about time people realize that. I guarantee that if she was shipped with Az, most of yall would love her.

Evidence that Azriel’s shadows DO NOT DISAPPEAR when he is calmed or relaxed or around the people he feels safe with.

Buckle up, this might be longer than a Target receipt.

1. ACOMAF:

When Feyre is getting to know them and she asks Cassian how he’s lasted so long without anyone killing him, Cassian belts out a full laugh and “Azriel’s brows flicked up with approval as the shadows seemed to wrap tighter around him. As if he were the dark hive from which they flew and returned.” He’s calmed and relaxed here…the shadows are there.

Later on, they’re having a family dinner. Calmed. Relaxed. His whole family around. Talking about the Illyrians. “Azriel nodded, shadows wreathing his neck, his wrists.”

They seemed friendly with Feyre too when they were going to the Human Lands and she flew with Azriel to piss off Rhys.

2. ACOWAR:

Back in the Night Court, anothee family dinner. They’re all eating and joking. The whole gang is there, talking about teaching Feyre how to fly: “We’ve taught plenty of younglings the basics” Cassian countered. Azriel shook his head, shadows twining around his wrists.

Before they head out to the Dawn Court, when they’re all joking waiting to leave: “Azriel, wreathed in shadows by the front door, chuckled quietly. Cassian shot him a glare. “I don’t see you spouting poetry, brother”. You all know the response to this one.

3. ACOFAS:

This is Rhysand’s POV. In his study, just talking about stuff, calmed, relaxed: One glance at Azriel’s unreadable face and I added, “Don’t answer that”. A corner of Azriel’s mouth curled up, the shadows about him sliding over his neck like living tattoos, twins to the Ilkyrian ones marked beneath his leathers.

4. ACOSF:

Cassian and Nesta are having breakfast. A nice cozy family meal: She might have snapped something, but Azriel stalked into the room on his heels. Nesta straightened at the shadowsinger’s appearance, the darkness clinging to his shoulders as he offered her a grim smile.

When Azriel gave Nesta the reading light for Solstice and she hugs him, he even chuckled: “Thank you”, Nesta said, quickly pulling away to marvel at the device. “It’s brilliant.” Azriel blushed and stepped back, shadows swirling.

And now, for my personal favorites. Chapter 60: the cutting of the ribbon:

Cassian lingered at the doorway as Nesta murmured to Gwyn, “You’ve got this.” (I love them, your Honor) Azriel came up beside him, silent as the shadows that wreathed his wings.

Gwyn asked Az, her teal eyes bright, “What do we get if we finish the course?” Az’s shadows DANCED AROUND HIM. “Since there’s no chance in hell any of you will finish the course, we didn’t bother to get a prize.

(By the way, this is the first time the shadows dance in all the books)

5. And now for the grand finale, THE BONUS CHAPTER.

“How was the party?” Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one if his shadows darted out TO DANCE WITH IT before twirling back to him. Like it heard some silent music.

When something restless settled in him, you can safely say he’s calmed and relaxed; and yet, his shadows had calmed too, lounging on his shoulders. Still there.

I think there’s enough evidence to debunk that theory that his shadows disappear around the people he feels safe with. Or how they disappear when he’s calmed or relaxed.

And again, maybe it’s not a bad thing that they disappear around Elain (I personally think this is not good)…but I’ll take their reactions to Gwyn over them disappearing ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. And twice on a Sunday.

I have this headcanon that Gwyn already had her first kiss.

Because let's think about it: She lived in Sangravah, a priestess temple. The priestesses who lived there participated in the Great Rite/Calanmai. So they had babies.

Unless the Great Rite has some weird kind of magic that only allows priestesses to conceive females, some of these babies were male. And I don't think they threw their male babies away a la Hera and Hephaestus, so they grew up in the temple by this logic.

Maybe they simply had to move out when they reached a certain age?

Anyways, for me, she was best friends with this quiet little boy. He liked her and was always giving her flowers. When they were, idk, 14 or 15, he had to leave the temple and gave her a goodbye kiss.

Years later she tells this story when hanging out with Nesta, Cass and Azriel. And a certain batboy gets illogically jealous.