meanwhile alicent talking about some “it is odd to be here with u hehe”….🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
ALICENT PLS LOCK IN SHE IS TRYING TO FUCK UR MAN U NEED TO DO SOMETHING ALICENT
Thank you HOTD for accurately representing the ancient sapphic courtship ritual of hovering awkwardly & hoping the other person makes the first move
*rhaenyra letting alicent be present in the small council meeting*
damon: why is she here?
rhaenyra: she’s a very dangerous person, I have to keep an eye on her all the time
Mysaria: and does she have to be sitting on your lap?
rhaenyra:
I find it interesting how they played their dynamic here with Alicent calling Rhaenyra “your grace”. Cause technically that shows respect and that’s what Alicent wanted since she was asking for a favor (love that it was also a bit sarcastic).
But the thing is: she didn’t bow or did any curtsy (like slightly bending her knee). You make yourself smaller/shorter and vulnerable to show that 1 you’re know a threat and 2 that you recognize who’s above you in hierarchy.
What we see here is Alicent completely above Rhaenyra to the point Rhaenyra has to look up and I find the symbolism so DELICIOUS cause in this situation Rhaenyra wants Alicent to give her advise and recognizes that even tho she’s the queen Alicent is still the person that has more experience than her
and the fact that rhaenyra never saw this side of her father (by convenience or chance) is part of the reason she still idolizes him no matter how much alicent or daemon or even her mother try gently telling her
Crazy thing about the tension in this scene is that there's a guard in the room watching them. They both look over and acknowledge his presence. This is them restraining themselves in front of others. This is them hiding their affection.
Alicent’s body language is so important here. The way she lingers, less strung up than usual, less tense. The seams of her performance fall apart in the presence of Rhaenyra….The way Rhaenyra calls for her only after she notices her hesitation in leaving.