Elain stans have such a weird relationship with Nuala and Cerridwen and I genuinely can't tell if they just choose not to look at the optics of that dynamic or what...

Now it's a problem for Elain to have friends?, how ridiculous is that? It's wrong when she doesn't have friends, and now it's wrong when she does? give me a break I don’t see how this could possibly be an issue?

Could you do me a favor, and answer these questions for me...

Can you describe their personalities? What does Nuala do in her free time? Where does she live? What moment of dialogue did you find interesting about them that furthered their story? Do they fight with each other? Where do they live? What are some of their personal struggles? What is something in all five books they’ve expressed they want to do? Are they in relationships? How are they affected by their trauma UTM? What interests you other than what they did for Elain? Can you name a moment in the text between them where they are speaking with one another? Did Elain ever return the favor? What is your favorite moment of them that's not them serving? Mutual interactions? What's your favorite moment of dialogue between Elain and the Twins? These are simple questions that cannot be explicitly answered.

"I can't wait for their friendship to be explored..." and yet we know nothing about the sisters. They have no character arc - there's nothing to look forward to other than what they have 'done for Elain'

When you guys are saying friends, you're saying that because of what the twins have done for Elain, what they will do. There's no conversation about what Elain has done for them. Even within the Valkyrie dynamic, Nesta initiates almost all of her current friendships - if anything Nesta has helped them first, and they do the same for her. I am not saying the dynamic is necessarily good, but simply, Gwyn and Emerie are not handmaidens. They aren't gonna 'dress Nesta' or 'set her up' with Cassian. They have issues, trauma, goals, and fears that are developed and not centered around Nesta. They have potential love interests, fears, aspirations, flaws. They struggle with things. And even that doesn't mean they're fully fledged or realistic...but Nuala and Cerridwen don't even have that.

The issue is that these are women of color placed into this servitude position so thoroughly, that people can't help but defend and recreate that dynamic in their own fandom experience. Its why most of the N+C fan arts look exactly like they do, and why the discussion around them is exactly the way it is - we are sub-consciously taught to continually write and treat them as they are portrayed; we train ourselves to justify these positions, and to uphold the hegemonic beliefs. Elain should make friends, she should go out and build relationships -- not just get handed bankrolled hand-maidens who essentially still operate as handmaidens. I do not think there should ever be character/maid positions without it being addressed. I especially don't think women of color should ever operate in the best friend/maid setting. It's a stereotype as old as time.