God I’m still processing everything about the imodna in this episode, but I love when Marisha and Laura raise their hands at each other after Imogen’s request, because on the one hand you’ve got Marisha like
“Are we doing this?”
And then you’ve got Laura all
“Man you think I control the Imogen??”
I just love that look of ‘I held her back as long as I could!’ because Imogen really was holding back for so long, out of fear and uncertainty, and I think a level of guilt as well. Laudna’s death could have been a big wake up call to Imogen to let Laudna know how she felt in case she lost her chance for good, but she didn’t interact one-on-one with Laudna for a long while afterwards, almost avoiding her at times. I just think that “is she your favourite” stuck with her, and a feeling of responsibility for Laudna’s death. Sure Otohan also killed Fearne and Orym, but those were more random attacks that could have been any one of the Hells. Laudna was targeted specifically, and specifically because of Imogen’s feelings for her. In her mind it was her fault.
So she’s bitten her tongue, shoved it down, and focused on their mission (and certainly had enough on her plate given how heavily it involved her and her mum).
This time though, the separation wasn’t her fault. And instead of everyone being very somber while working on a revival spell, you’ve got FCG discovering a first love, Chetney and Fearne off on their ménage a trois, and Imogen is left with nothing to do but miss Laudna, and miss Laudna, and miss Laudna.
And suddenly Laudna’s back and Imogen’s run out of excuses. She can’t hear anything from Laudna to tell her no, the guilt is gone, and she truly can’t keep it under control any longer. “Can I kiss you?”
