⤵️Copy n pasting my very old and looong doc of azris theories/observations collected over the yrs (purely absorbed through osmosis of this wonderful fandom). It's all so joosy that a Suriel would be proud.
No matter what happens, y'all came up with the most phenomenal big brain concepts I've ever experienced in any fandom and I'm fuckin stoked to see what ideas you come up with after acotar 6&7 (apologies for the length, repetition, crudity. And I def missed many points coz azris theories are endless lmao)
I've now included some laboriously drawn, in depth illustrations as visual aid so you can skip the insane word count:
-The art of failing at your job
How does Eris catch the famously undetectable shadowsinger spying in his woods? (A great nose or a B0nd?)
-The ultimate enemies to lovers
Sons of the most abusive fathers. Protective of their abused mothers. Familiar with being locked away, brutalized, used as tools. The best at gathering intelligence/secrets. Blood on their hands. Feel like outsiders in their own family. Kinky (Eris: ropes of fire + fire gag & "autumn males have fire in their blood and fuck like it too". Az: shadow ropes, icy rage, knives, blindfold + dubbed "a freak in bed"). Duty bound. They have a weirdly keen sense of smell. Mommy boys. Pining over females for the wrong reasons *cough*. Lonely.
-Eris being mated to a torturer and Az being mated to a fae of fire would be poetic.
They can help each other overcome their traumas with sexy exposure therapy (show us the "freaky" Az HEHE)
rare beings that are only bound to Az and Eris and would have cute adventures. Smoke+shadows / shadows+fire: common pair in romantasy themes, illusions, enemies to lovers, forbidden, etc
Az has low self esteem and always pines for and idealizes unavailable/uninterested/pure/abused "damsels" (like it will cancel out all that is wrong in him?) But maybe he should heal first choose someone who is his Ouroboros. A reflection of being able to love and accept himself.
-Fire to thaw Az's "icy rage".
Acosf: "a pretty lie. Nesta saw Az by the fireplace often"
-The Great 500 yr friendzone
Theory: what if Az believed for 500 yrs that Mor was his mate because he found her dying after feeling a 'tug' (but it was really Eris alerting him through their b0Nd to save her life) despite every indication that Mor has no interest. This would make his idealization and desperation to be with someone who perpetually friendzones him more understandable. (Sn: acofas Mor says noone knew where she was) Qt: “Azriel,” Rhys said, “has been preoccupied with the same female for the past five hundred years.” “Wouldn’t the mating bond have snapped into place for them if it exists?” Rhys’s eyes shuttered. “I think that is a question Azriel has been asking himself every day since he met Mor.”
-Azriel's derangery when saving:
He prioritizes saving Eris over Cassian and the Valkyries. "He grabbed Eris and shot into the skies." (SN: why did the made dagger end up being so absolutely useless? ☠️)
And he rushes to Eris' location during the war with hybern (the northern flank) with damaged wings; he tells Rhys "chain me to a tree, I'll fly with it on my damn back". (HC: Eris got that scar protecting Az)
(^courtesy of @mistandmemories reminding me of that iconic moment w/ Feyfey dying out during Az's dialogue.)
What could make Eris "blanch" when he is so accustomed to an "enemy's torture" (specifically from his father) and who "never gets ruffled or phased" (described by Mor in acofas). Az with his "perfect" control is equally only ever phased when it comes to Eris
-Eris wants to explain himself
to someone in the inner circle and it's not Cassian or Mor (He tells Mor "I am not going to waste my breath explaining it to you, believe what you want about me" and he tells Cassian "you're not the one I want to explain myself to"). But in response to Az growling: "What happened next?” "A shadow crosses Eris’s face" as he says “There are few things I regret. That is one of them. But … perhaps one day, now that we are allies, I shall tell you why. What it cost me.” (like a B0nd?)
-Eris never brawls or defends himself from Az. He never burns him.
-Rhys (and even Mor) begrudgingly trust Eris after something is revealed to them. (Remember that Rhys doesn't trust easy. Remember also that Rhys only trusts that Lucien won't betray them because they have his mate, Elain. (Claimsalt1697: Reddit)
-Territorial mate behavior?
Az's "cold fury" when he realizes Eris is being spelled by Koschei/Briallyn and his face going dark at the idea of Eris being tortured. Eris also bares his teeth when he hears that Az has been injured.
-Did Koschei use Eris to lure Az?
-Theory: Azriel's headaches are caused by Daemati induced memory erasure. What if Eris trained against Daemati because he had a romance with Az as mates centuries ago until Az's memory or bond was altered by someone (like Rhys' father?) And it's left Az hollow and forever searching for that phantom limb (credit: "embers in the dark" on AO3 by thanksdraco)
-Az tells Cass he'd feel in his chest if Nesta was killed, as if he understands bonds. However bonds can sometimes go dark, which is what causes Cass and Rhys to freak out at times. Later when Az is worried about Eris he says he "can't get a read on him". (Claimsalt1697 on Reddit)
-where does Az disappear to after summit meeting, after hybern war, after saving Eris from koschei?
-what do the shadows whisper
to Az everytime he's staring Eris down? (Staring like you wanna kill and fuck him at the same time= enemies to lovers premium)
-Az is fickle with the ladies
He seems to want a trophy (bonus chapter: "two of three sisters were "promised to his brothers" and he wants to be worthy of the third. None of the girls he likes feel especially special to him atp (limerent vibes). When Rhys asks him "What of Mor?" right after he feels aroused by Elain one second, and is then regifting her necklace and thinking of Gwyn's smile in the next. He romanticizes finding true love so much it hurts.
It's unfair to all of them. Including himself.
(barbie in honour of Debbie Jellinsky)
-Az is desired and sexualized by many different female chars himself (classic gay male trope).
-Both duty bound. Despite Rhys being daemati and Mor having truth powers Az tortures information out of fae and it keeps the hands of his loved ones clean. Eris is tortured, takes blame, plays the bad guy and makes sacrifices to protect others and his court. They never prioritize their wellbeing nor play the good guy.
-"Azriel's eyes slid to Eris, the high lord's son panting beneath him, leaned in and whispered in his ear" (HOT). And Helion (the og shipper) being turned on by it is hilarious (do you know anything sir?)
-Eris is the only one who can destroy Az's "indomitable control" To the point of being choked out despite Az saying that he hates "hand to hand" combat because it's "too close for his tastes" and prefers "swordplay" (punny lol). Eris pushes Az to use his hands (repeat: show.us.the.freaky).
-Eris being a fae of fire who stays cool vs Az with his icy rage and no chill at all is hilarious.
-Azris would be so compelling and would bring a new healing connection between Az, Mor and Eris
-Az secretive about his "lovers". In the closet(shadows)? Bi?
-Azris would solve all the ship wars pitting women against each other, and stop pairing centuries old dudes with 20 yr old females. Also add more 🏳️🌈 storylines. But also just be a stupendously dramatic plot twist. (Captive prince levels. Song of achilles levels. We know you love those books too sjm)
-book 5 Eris wears Az's colour (cobalt jacket)
-Eris (goddess of discord) Azrael (angel of death). Chaos and Order. (Also the goddess Eris and her apple causing 3 goddesses to fight over being the fairest is funny) Eris being daughter of Nyx would also be a neat lil autumn/night connect too.
-Eris constantly asking after Azriel in acosf. They have many meet ups we haven't seen.
-eris knows SO much more than others seem to. Even abt intel only known in CC. Spill all your tea my spymaster. (Dusk court?)
-Eris is Rhys if Rhys never escaped UTM from a tyrant he had to appease. Timevian on reddit: "Eris is a dreamer but there are no stars in his world".
-Cassian: Eris is "a good male stuck in a terrible situation".
- "Do I not ally myself with this court under constant threat of being discovered and killed by my father? Do I not offer aid whenever Rhysand wishes?"
-Eris gave Mor the freedom he so desperately wants for himself by not claiming her in Autumn; and having her enslaved by Beron: "chained to the bed and endlessly bred" (Mor's words) (Mor even says "you're free" when she saves Feyre: "you're free, not safe, but free" )
-Eris tried to save Lucien's lesser fae lover Jesminda, who was killed brutally and Eris was tortured in consequence. Eris saved Lucien's life by alerting Tamlin once he got free. it makes sense that's he'd be terrified of Az being discovered as his mate since he's male, also a lesser fae, and the coveted shadowsinger.
-did Eris stall for time when attacking a weakened feyre and Lucien? (melting that millenial old lake "slowly" as if to torture them). he also stalls Keir from visiting Velaris by "sacrificing something", and stalls for Mor in book 5.
-Keeps Beron and his brothers in line at the meeting.
-"I wouldn't have touched forced myself on you"
-"what did he endure UTM" "if Beron wasn't his father"
-He's the general of the autumn court but holds back greatly when fighting the IC.
-He's the first to volunteer himself for Nuan's antidote.
-he shows "Regret and sadness in his eyes as he passes by Lucien."
-he is brave in battle and runs headfirst to save his spelled soldiers, despite the odds
-"Eris was just angling his body in his chair—blocking the path to his mother."
-he dresses immaculately and Cassian calls his face and hands pretty. Dyou have a type cass.
-"Mor avoids the truth because it scares her. The IC prefer to believe a version of events that is easier to swallow."
-He wants a strong wife to help him recover autumn (he hasn't "taken" a wife in the 500 yrs since Mor, doesn't want to imprison another female?), his lust for Nesta feels like admiration of her power and he understands her position like he did for Mor. He saw how repressed nesta was and wanted her to thrive. "You're wasted in night". Her dancing was the first time she'd felt alive in a long time
-Eris "baring his teeth" after hearing Azriel was injured. Classic protective mate behavior. But also very sad if his soldiers were harmed by his own mate (Az wanted them to immediately explain the circumstances to eris too)
Theories I'm not a fan of: Eris was a youngling when he was betrothed to Mor, Eris is Helion's son too (amber eyes), Eris/mor or mor/az or azris are rejected mates *cries*
- "maybe the cauldron was wrong" Az tells Rhys. What if he thinks Mor is his rejected mate, or maybe he has an inkling that Eris is his mate and resents it.
-Rhys warns Az to stay away from Elain in fear of how Lucien may respond, but what of Eris? Rhys has been keeping a secret from feyre and the others in acosf that is stressing him out. Perhaps the same secret that has him trusting Eris. We know it was not about the baby because when Feyre questions him he evades it. (Claimsalt1697 on Reddit)
-autumn night, fire and shadows. Greatest combo.
Eris is SJM's favest autumn character, give him a beautiful story plzplzplzplz.
-would Az's bonus chapter have been widely different if it took place at the end of acosf after saving Eris?
-theyre often compared to Ariel and Eric LOL. Eris wants to be part of Az's world. Eris has mean siblings, Eris sacrifices his voice/truth to an evil witch that tricks Az (sorry mor? I need you to have a big gay reconciliation party with Eris tho) (SN: I'm starting to think Mor interrupts conversations between Eris and az on purpose☠️)
“I assume your Shadowsinger is off doing what he does best..”
“Tell me when the Shadowsinger returns..”
“You need to ask Eris whether Beron knows about this..”
“You need to meet with Eris..”
“We have to notify Eris about his soldiers reappearance. And what we did to them.”Az says tightly…
“My spies got word that Eris has been captured by Briallyn..”
“I think the better question is if Eris is still alive. I can’t get a read on it”
"Eris is in hewn city pissed and confused" lmAo
I had to use that brash princeling Eris to draw him in.”
"Eris tried to help his soldiers when they surrounded him during his
hunt. Help those wretches. He rode right up to them, rather than gallop away
as any wise person would. They grabbed him with minimal fuss. Even those
infernal hounds of his could do nothing as Koschei winnowed him away.”
But Briallyn smiled at him. “I was getting worried you’d never
approach. Poor Eris would have met a very sorry end if that had been the
case. His fire wouldn’t have withstood Koschei’s lake, I don’t think.”
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