[TS4] Divided- 2023 Love Day Special

 CONTENT WARNING: Spoilers for the entirety of Divided so far (up to chapter 2:12), mentions of death / illness, discussion of prejudice of multiple kinds, trauma, childbirth complications...it's pretty heavy since there's some backstory recap and some extra bits.

- The descriptions of the various depictions of different kinds of love at the end of each of the sections obviously won't apply to everyone. Just making this clear before someone says I'm generalising or not including their specific experience.

- Please ignore Roisin’s randomised modern outfit that I forgot to change…

Valentines' Day next week, so I decided to make a Love Day post, as TS4 calls it, celebrating love in its multiple complex forms- Such as our love for...

...our partners

When you ask most people about love, they'll likely immediately think of romance. So let's start with that one, and with the first couple introduced, Áine and Reynold.

 

These two had a fun introduction, what with little Annabeth blurting out that she thought Reynold had something for Áine- which turned out to be true, and thankfully Áine eventually found herself feeling the same way. Being in a relationship is something of a taboo for Peteran and Jacoban priests alike, but that wasn't going to stop young Reynold. He recalled the Peteran passages that spoke of letting one enjoy oneself once in a while, after all. Reynold was Áine's first 'safe person' after leaving her family home, and that accentuated the positive feelings she had about him. To this day he continues to do what he can to protect her, even if he should have told her about his blood before that night in the forest on Beltane that resulted in their daughter...and although Áine insists she doesn't need protecting, she appreciates the thought. 

And then of course, we ended up with the wonderful pair of Kat and Ellie. 

Another humorous introduction, as Kat found herself falling for Ellie the moment she woke up in Ellie's arms after losing consciousness. Sometimes, love at first sight is a thing, even if it's something of a cliche. The trouble is, at this point in the Magic Universe history, what we'd today call LGBT+, no-one spoke about it. Unlike our real world, it isn't punishable by any means, but it's still seen as strange by the middle classes, and as damnable by the nobility who are used to their forced rigid family structures. Despite it all, Kat and Ellie aren't willing to let anything get in the way of their love for each other. Similarly to Áine, Kat found comfort in Ellie when she had to flee from Henford, and as such, that only made her feelings for her stronger. What started as 'wow, she's cute' quickly blossomed into something deeper. Now, back in Henford with a new sense of self-confidence (and a girlfriend!) Kat can do anything with Ellie by her side. Ellie taught her that she didn't need to be so hyper-independent.

A good partner can make all the difference. They can heal the wounds left by people in the past, they can provide a sense of safety, and they can sometimes completely change your life in amazing ways. Even if it doesn't last forever, good times with a good partner will be treasured forever. 

...for our friends

Whilst many of the characters in the story have a few friends here and there, the most powerful of those friendships is most likely to be the one that has lasted over one hundred years: Oskar and Violeta. 

The relationship between a sire and their progeny cannot be easily described in words, or described to mortals. The easiest way to describe Oskar and Violeta would be to say that they are best friends, though due to Violeta's responsibility for Oskar after his turning, she sometimes has maternal qualities.

Though their moral differences have impacted their friendship at times, mainly over the witches and the happenings during the Bloodmoon War- Oskar and Violeta have rarely left one another's side. Oskar helped Violeta get on her feet in Windenburg after she fleed killing her abusive partner. He helped her to heal from it, and from a fear and hatred of men (though that still persists in her until this day). Violeta helped to comfort Oskar when he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and remained by his bedside until his near-death, and gave him the chance to keep living his life. 

Despite Oskar's many differences to most of the people she's met- those both present before and after his transformation- Violeta has always been as patient and as understanding as she can be with the limited knowledge of the mind that she (and everyone else in this time period) has. There are times where Oskar feels as if he is a burden on her, and there are times where Violeta feels deeply guilty for some of the issues vampirism has caused him. Either way, both of them think the world of each other and couldn't imagine a world without the other one in it. Whilst Oskar has not always agreed with Violeta's actions- especially her willingness to drink from innocent people- he has remained by her side regardless. Both of them would say that there is very little the other one could do that would break their bond. After all, these two spent years killing witchfinders together in the remote town of Nebelstadt, and Violeta knows of Oskar's years as a soldier in the Bloodmoon War, where he allowed himself to embrace the sadistic side that his vampirism had granted him. 

Good friends are practically necessary- everyone needs at least one, whether in real life or online. A good friend will listen to us, will care for us, and will be there for us when we need it. They'll be there to make memories with and share laughs with. To have someone to genuinely call a good friend is a great gift.

...for our siblings

The most prominent siblings in Divided are, of course Reynold and Clementia Morgan- twins, one born with Lunvinchenaîné blood and the other without.

 

They haven't always gotten along...I mean, they're siblings. Reynold didn't really notice his parents' favouritism growing up, and sometimes he noticed and did nothing, not realising how much his sister Clementia was suffering because of it. Unfortunately, all of that favouritism never gave their father Alistair the idea to actually teach Reynold how to use his special power. During a heated argument with his sister, Reynold uncontrollably transformed into a werewolf for the first time, almost killing his sister in a bloody attack. Whether or not he genuinely wanted to harm her at that point is still something he's not sure he remembers- after all, magical intent is the most powerful part of any action involving some kind of magic. His true intent is lost to history, and in a way, it might be better if it stays there.

However, despire their disagreements and how much Clem's words cut through him like a knife, he never wanted to hurt his sister. He took her straight to the Peteran church, in part to find a safe place for his sister, and in part, in an attempt to redeem himself. They were both raised Peteran, only Clem fled the monastery after she came to, eventually finding a place in the Jacoban cathedral, believing in their cruel, unjust Watcher moreso than the kindly one she was raised with. After all, what good Watcher would do nothing to stop the terrible things that happened in the world? Nothing to stop her upbringing, or her brother? 

Deep down, they have never not loved each other, even in the worst of their arguments and the deepest of their rift. Clem made sure she never revealed the secret that would get both him and her killed because he was family. Reynold has never truly despised Clem after her attitude after that incident because although he could not control it, she almost died, and it left physical and mental scars. He understands this. 

Over time, they eventually reconciled, and agreed to try and leave the past in the past as much as they could. Reynold's actions and his honesty with his partner (though a little too late), as well as Clem's honesty with the intent of her words back in the day, made them both realise that they were trying to move forward, and that they would both do what they could to help each other do that. Though on opposite sides of the core belief in the Watcher, they are still always looking out for each other.

Siblings can absolutely get on our nerves and sometimes be downright awful, especially when we're kids- but a lot of the time, a good sibling will know when they've passed a boundary and they'll try to make it up to you. They may wind you up and playfight, but if anyone else starts on you or gives you hassle, they won't let it happen. If you have struggles within family, sometimes siblings can be a listening ear. Siblings are a blessing and a curse, but I would say I couldn't imagine life without my brother, even if he's incompetent and irritating and other various things. : P 

...for those no longer with us 

Love is all that is left of some people that were once close to us in the physical world.

 

When Gideon lost his partner, Ruth, to childbirth complications, he was unimaginably heartbroken. Eventually, he turned to witchfinding to pay for a good future for his children, as well as a catharsis to overcome the crushing grief within him. However, he realised a little too late that he was stealing other families' futures from them in order to give his children one. 

 

The life he led after Ruth's death would be one she would be incredibly ashamed of, and this was mainly what drove him to change, as well as his love for his children. He doesn't know it, but Ruth is always watching over him. She may not be happy with the life he's led after her death, but she's glad that she saw it within him to put an end to it for both her sake and the sake of their children, as well as innocent women and families. He constantly mourns her passing, but he tries to convert his bereavement into something proactive- bringing up the children that she died giving birth to well. Being a good role model to them and undoing the damage he's done, raising them to be the loving boys Ruth would have raised them as.

Those that pass on will always have a place in our hearts and minds. Though it's painful to lose someone or something you care about, all you can do is hold on to the remnants of them left in this world, and those remnants are within your good memories with them. 

...for our animal friends

There's a few animals in the story, but who could be more prominent (and cute) than Katlego's little owl, Nia?

 

Back in her home country, Kat found Nia thirsty and starving on a warm summer night, and shared some food with her. When she went to release her back into the wild, Nia refused to go, and Kat felt a strong bond with this little owl more befitting of a familiar than a pet. Kat claims that she can understand everything that Nia 'says' and does, and that her intelligence is almost human. She hasn't performed the spell that would bind Nia as her familiar, wanting Nia to know that, despite their bond, she can always return to life in the wild whenever she feels she's ready. She doesn't want Nia to leave, but doesn't feel right not letting an animal have the choice to run free again as it was meant to. The reality is, Nia never wants to leave Kat's side. She's always been there for her, even when she's been completely alone after leaving her home country for wet, grey Henford.

 

Animals are a welcome break from humans, and they are there for us when others aren't. They're great for cuddles and for play, and they're loyal companions. Even wild animals have a healing element to them, whether you're watching them out and about or on a documentary of some kind. There's something powerful about the presence of animals that we'd be lost without.

 

...for our children

Admittedly not every parent in this story is great...or even decent for that matter. But when Áine gave birth to her daughter Róisín, it changed everything.

 

 

 

Sadly, Áine's own mother was killed before she could properly teach her how to be a good mother, leaving Áine lost on many things. She follows her instincts and tries to emulate her own mother, but sometimes, toddlers are just completely unpredictable, and no amount of good parenting can prepare her for the chaos!

 

Still, no amount of full-moon tantrums or fussiness could ever change how she feels about her little girl. Áine thinks the world of her, and she will do anything to protect her and give her the good, long life that she deserved, and that many like her don't get. 

Young children may be tearaways at times, but they can be plenty of fun and a joy to be around with theirt boundless energies and imagination. As it will eventually for Áine, there'll be a day when she's older when Áine reminisces longingly on the simpler days when she was younger, possibly even wanting them back for just a moment. A good parent will realise the joys their children bring to their lives, and will realise that with every milestone comes a plethora of new memories together, no matter how old their children get.

And lastly, one many neglect...

...for ourselves

Clem has had to gather confidence like a starving fox desperately gathers what scraps it can find. Her family cared more about Reynold, both for his gender and for the magic in his blood, and the Jacoban cathedral is often not kind to women, even if the Finchwick cathedral's High Shepherd isn't like that. For Clem, it's mostly been a lonely journey. 

 

As it is for most women, it's been a constant fight of demanding the respect one deserves, and sometimes being too scared to because of a lifetime of being told to pipe down every time she shows anything just outside of submission. Nowadays though, for the most part, Clem won't take anything less than the respect she deserves. She's willing to go to any length to get what she needs to, and she won't back down easily. She's willing to stand her ground when needed, and it's made all the difference. Her hard work and determination is what's gotten her as far as she's gotten. She's not attributing her little victories to anyone else. 

Self-love is a difficult balance. Most people either have too little or too much, and finding that healthy sweet spot is incredibly difficult. I would say that the key to self-love isn't necessarily positivity. I'd say it's a trial-and-error process of knowing when to be easy on yourself, and when to be harsh, and when to just give yourself a bit of a nudge. It's a long process to work out. 

 

...for my readers

Thank you to all of my regular readers, and to those who share their thoughts on the story and character with me. You are in this hyperfixation rollercoaster with me and there is no escape. Bunny hugs for all of you. < 3 

I hope you all enjoyed this celebration of love, and I wish everyone a happy Valentines' day week. The commercialism is annoying, sure, but hey, it's great when the chocolates get reduced after. : P