#But also like as a result of Trellis's actions taking away Vigo's choice Vigo doubled down on his flaws

[motherstone]

Ok so like, I've been pondering about a lot about what elements to keep in Amulet and I seriously didn't wanna keep the Void thing bc despite being so crucial to the plot, Kazu didn't really do a good job in executing it. Idk. It's up in the air. Ngl I haven't really refined all the rougher points but in general I have a direction on what I wanna explore/go

Remember Kazu retconned Daniel Light's (Vigo's son) death in book 5 as a result of the Void rather than being killed by the Elf King? What if he DID die by the Elf King but not really? What if we expound and connect that according to the Voice the Elf King is a persuasive and manipulative villain (not that the Voice is a character here but I'm talking abt what they said)?

So like I'd write Vigo as a loving but imperfect father. He focused way too much on his goals and failed to actually like, realize that his son does not necessarily share the same view and goals as he does as dismantling the system and that he is his own person, but Daniel only goes along in the hopes of getting some love and attention from his father, putting a lot of pressure from himself bc he's the only parent he has after losing Miriam.

Like Vigo keeps hyping Daniel up woth lofty and noble futures and Daniel does appreciate them and does want it despite all the stress and pressure and expectations of being a good perfect son but mostly it makes his dad happy and proud of him. So like as an ultimate act of making Vigo proud, Daniel sets off to fight the Elf King.

Only for Vigo to receive the news he's been killed in action.

As Vigo retreats to himself, retreats to an island away from the world that took his son, Daniel was ultimately just caught, tortured, and imprisoned.

He resists. He spits into that cold, unfeeling white mask. He's strong, his father raised to be strong, defiant against the powerful. His father loves him, he'll soon come running in to save him — he just has to hold out that's all.

It's not a thought he maintains after not seeing the sun and moon for months.

Soon, there were whispers. Maybe they were from his head, or that dark corner. But he hears. His father only loves him when Daniels goes along with him as far as he can. And this is only what he can do. Wail himself to a silenced throat and lie broken on the floor. His father has known of his fate a long time ago, the message receiving its destination, but he lies here still. He has not come because he chose not to come. A broken weapon is a useless one.

It didn't take long for the familiar white mask and robe to be a comforting, frequent presence. Soothing, offering affection, understanding. A similar anger. How dare he. How dare my father, to train me til my eyes bleed and my fingers blistered? How dare he to ultimately discard me, for a failed destiny he did not want?

Many more years still, he hears of his father again, the white mask whispers. With a new stonekeeper under his wing. With a renewed and sincere fatherly affection. With pride in his eyes.

Teeth gnashing, nail cutting skin, Daniel agrees to a deal so he could kill his father.

tl;dr: Vigo wasn't the best dad to Daniel, who was under a lot of pressure and deep down feels Vigo's love is conditional. In an attempt to prove himself, he sets off to fight the Elf King but is captured and tortured. Vigo assumes he died and goes to seclusion. The Elf King emotionally manipulated Daniel to turn him against his father and gain a vicious ally. Daniel agrees to be.. Experimented upon to gain power to kill Vigo and his new protege, assuming Vigo is replacing him with Emily and wanting Emily to be spared from her training under Vigo bh killing her as well.

So Vigo's character arc conflict is all about being a better father/mentor. He already fucked up with Daniel, would he end up repeating the same mistakes with Emily and Trellis?? And tbh at the start he honestly does. Vigo is treating Emily with a carrot, while Trellis with a stick. And he doesn't realize he's doing something wrong bc he doesn't realize that the same system he's trying to dismantle is the same behavior he's replicating w the current generation!! As a result he's just continuing the cycle of abuse. Maybe a confrontation with his son make him realize things? 👀

Wanna hear me say my asinine writing ideas again