Okay I've talked about the tragedy of Laudna now let's talk about the tragedy of Imogen.
It’s been a while, but her moment in the Feywild truth exercise where she says "I think I’m tainted. I don’t know if I want to save gods that don’t love me" has really stuck in my mind. The thing is, I don’t think she’s specifically talking about the gods here, but rather summing up and projecting her entire experience as a ruidusborn. She isn’t thinking "Why aren’t I the gods' special little princess? Why haven’t they come to save me specifically?? You better love me or I'll let you die" (which we have seen does seem to be a common attitude in the Vanguard) This is her fear of being against her own will tainted by something evil. Her fear that, despite knowing how wrong it is, part of her longs for the power and belonging that comes with giving in to Predathos. It’s knowing that this thing is the antithesis of the gods, and that no matter what she does and how much she opposes it, it is still part of her. And because of that, the world doesn’t love her. Her mother left, her father can barely look at her, her own body will betray her with feelings and powers she doesn't understand, her community ostracized her, her allies view her with suspicion, the gods will not lend a hand in their own rescue when she asks despite Imogen putting herself and her loved ones in danger for their sake.
And Imogen is tired. Tired of being the bigger person, tired of resisting. Logically she knows the gods don’t hate her specifically but it ads up, and as the lure of Predathos does promise love and belonging part of her wants to give in because why should she risk so much to save a world that has never once tried to save her.
And that’s where she, as well as Laudna, get so interesting. They have deeply sympathetic reasons for their doubts and flaws, as well as for why they value each other so much higher than the entirety of Exandria (tl;dr because they have only ever gotten genuine understanding and unconditional love from each other). But that doesn’t mean it isn't flaws. It doesn’t mean Imogen, if she hadn’t met Laudna and the Hells first and realized the harm the Vanguard is causing and that their promises are ultimately lies, couldn’t have been drawn in by the Vanguard's ideas. It doesn’t mean they aren't wrong in blaming gods for bad things in their own lives, or in demanding special treatment. But it’s deeply understandable, which is the very reason they and people like them're such excellent targets for the Vanguard to convert. And once in the Vanguard, it doesn’t matter how tragic and sympathetic you are, you are still doing evil.
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A reminder,
To enjoy life where you are.
Remember you'll never be perfect. You'll never be pretty enough, organized enough, thin enough, clean enough, educated enough.
But one thing you can always be enough of is yourself.
I've really been struggling with recovery as of late. Most of my eating disorder all stemmed from the need to be perfect, always put together, always neat and every hair in place, always sweet and clean.
It really made me realize that in my attempt to reach true perfection I was really putting my life off, and in turn, it cause extreme burnout and depression.
I've been listening to 'Too Sweet' by Hozier a lot lately and have really been meditating on the lyrics and their meaning. I realized that although there is that sweetness to perfection and it can be beautiful, the natural and rawness of life is much more beautiful.
I was talking to Aphrodite earlier and realized I am beautiful as myself. The routines, the starving, the cleanliness, the sweetness, the order... none of that made me beautiful. I am already beautiful as I am. I am a human, a woman, so by proxy I am one of the most beautiful things to be.
I'm not saying it's a bad thing to have a skincare routine, sleep schedule, healthy diet, or routine. I just mean to remember your only human, remember to soak up this life. Those things are just background noise, and although they can help. Don't forget to just take life in, and learn to enjoy life and everything that it is WHILE continuously improving and making your mind and body stronger.
In the beginning your body was just dirt, and to dirt it will return. But remember your soul is what you need to look after the most.
Don't wait till your perfect, your routine, your life, or your craft is perfect to enjoy life. Remember to stay off autopilot and take and take and take every little thing life has to give you, cherish it, remember it. Build a life that feels good, not a life that looks good.
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