#I feel like there are a lot of imogen/laudna and caleb/nott parallels but those relationships do NOT feel the same to me

[revvethasmythh]

Thinking about masks, specifically Laudna's, and how determined she is to maintain hers around Imogen. With Imogen, Laudna's mask is necessary because Imogen is someone she wants to protect and support, someone Laudna wants to give the life she never had, and she can't do that if she's feeling doubtful and uncertain about herself. So Laudna has to put on that protective, supportive front without voicing many of her darker, more serious thoughts, made evident by her conversation with Ashton in tonight's episode. And, as interesting as it is to draw parallels between Imogen and Laudna and early Caleb and Nott, I think primary difference of their dynamics is because of that mask (or its lack thereof).

Nott and Caleb didn't really have something like that separating them. I think, arguably, Caleb required more babying from Nott in the early days because he was a complete mess in a way that Imogen isn't, which is represented in how Nott treats him and protects him (coddles him, even, sometimes). But they didn't really put up false fronts between each other. They kept secrets, sure. Nott and Caleb excelled at keeping secrets. But they were very emotionally honest with each other despite their secret-keeping. And I can't help but wonder if Imogen and Laudna are actually the direct opposite of that--they don't have any secrets, sure. But have they been or are they capable of being completely emotionally honest with each other? Can Laudna actually let her guard down around Imogen and drop her lightheartedness or is it too difficult for her to face the truth of those serious feelings with Imogen?

#just thoughts really #I feel like there are a lot of imogen/laudna and caleb/nott parallels but those relationships do NOT feel the same to me #maybe this is some of why #cr spoilers #critical role #bells hells #cr3e32 #imogen temult #laudna #caleb widogast #nott the brave #veth brenatto #the mighty nein #this might be absolutely nothing (because it's 4:30am and what am I even writing) but it might be something? idk? #this is also the reason I think I don't ship imogen and laudna #I prefer that complete emotional honesty that I'm just not sure they have