I think a lot of people are poorly misunderstanding Rhys’ question to Az about deserving Elain here. It really bothers me that people started to freak out about Rhys and Az’s dynamic after (mis)reading this one conversation. There seems to be a couple of issues causing the confusion:
Interpreting the words
Context
The first half of all the confusion seems to be a problem of language. Sarah might’ve chosen a less ambiguous word here but, alas, here we are.
So.
Deserve: to have earned or to be given something because of the way you have behaved or the qualities you have. (Cambridge Dictionary)
Deserve: do something or have or show qualities worthy of (a reaction which rewards or punishes as appropriate). (Oxford Dictionary)
Obviously both these definitions are different and you can probably see where this is going.
In the same vein, two synonymous phrases to ‘deserve’ are ‘to be entitled to’and‘to be worthy of’. We see that the word can be used to describe either of those attitudes. For the latter, Rhys asking Az if he actually believes he’s worthy of Elain would be so, so bad - and also completely and ridiculously out of character. Rhys constantly talks about how much it hurts him to see Az (and Cassian) believe that he’s a worthless bastard and even expresses this to Feyre on multiple occasions. So for him to to turn around and imply that Az wasn’t worthy of Elain would be so uncharacteristic of Rhys’ personality. But Rhys asking Az if he thinks he’s entitled to Elain’s affection makes much more sense in this context - and also how we’d expect Rhys to respond to Az’s words just before this question: “What if the Cauldron was wrong?… The Cauldron chose three sisters. Tell me how it’s possible that my two brothers are with two of those sisters, yet the third was given to another.” To which Rhys responds: “You believe you deserve to be her mate?” The context of the conversation makes it obvious that Rhys is freaked out because it sounds like Az feels he’s entitled to the third sister because of some sort of Cauldron-math - not the possibility that Elain herself might choose Az. Azriel never even mentions considering Elain’s choice in this whole conversation, even if he might have thought about it privately. So it seems obvious where Rhys’ line of thought would go, what he would be concerned about. He was obviously making a point about how fucked up it would be if Az were to think he deserves Elain as if she were an object. Like one would deserve a trophy or prize. As if Elain’s affection is EXPECTED to be directed at Az by the Cauldron/fate because HE thinks so. That he is somehow entitled to Elain.
Bear in mind that Rhys is a male who’s obsessed with choice (because his own was taken away) and who himself didn’t ever allow himself to believe that he was entitled to his own mate’s love. There are plenty of men who believe themselves entitled to a woman for all sorts of reasons - so it’s not a stretch that Rhys would be disturbed to hear something that sounds similar to entitlement in Az’s words. Especially since it’s obvious that Az is in a dark place (not sleeping, sad eyes, standing in the doorway throughout Solstice celebrations) and Rhys has obviously noted this. People can try to justify all sorts of attitudes when they’re in such a dark place (See: Nesta).
All this context is important to this conversation, guys!
I hunted through my blog so you didn’t have to! Below you will find a story catalog. How to send asks. And a few bonus content I thought you would enjoy! I will try to edit this and update it as new stories come out. The Best Way to make sure the story you love is continued is to comment and ask for more!
Story Catalog
Imagine You’re A Young Princess (Completed!) Posted On Imagine You’re Pregnant; but I am the Author. I now post things on my blog first then submit them to Imagine.
Anonymous Asks : This is how you can get in touch with me.
I don’t know what to ask? Try one of these! Please include the Question when you ask. Birth fetish ask meme 100 NSFW Questions Ask Meme Kinky Asks Kink-mas Asks I also Accept prompts, but keep in mind, Those take much longer to fulfill, and I may not find the inspiration to fill them.
Other stories: on my Blog that Were not written by me, but I love them!
So I’ve got lots of thoughts and feelings on “Come home and fight with me”
But tbh I think no one wants another dissertation out of me on this fandom so all I’m gonna say is that those words are not a show of weakness of softness but are instead the words of a desperate man literally begging for a fight. Cardan isn’t simping here, he wants to know Jude cares enough to be angry and to have the fight. He -wants to fight- because he only knows how to express himself through harshness and also once the fight is over it is over. Fights are clear. A beating may leave bruises but it ends.
So first things first: these gorgeous Infernal Devices alternate dust jackets are sold out. I wanted you guys to see the artwork by Alice Duke because it’s SO GORGEOUS. I love that each cover shows two pairs of characters: Will and Tessa, then Jem and Tessa, then Jem and Will. I love all the details, like the angel wings, the spire of the London Institute, modern day Blackfriars Bridge, the library books and so much more! These were part of the Lost Book of the White box done by @faecrate and while that sold out, here’s hoping we see these again in a future box, right?
