Gwen as jonelias’ daughter is so funny, she really took their worst traits
everyone in OIAR realising why Gwen is Like ThatTM when they meet her parents
so in the fluff episode Gwen talks about calling her father, so what if Jon is away for some Archivist business, having left when Gwen was 8 and now she thinks they just didn’t want to tell her about their divorce (it’s both. they are divorced and Jon is traveling the world, learning more about the temples of the Beholding). Gwen was left to be raised by Elias, which neither were happy about resulting in Gwen cutting contact. Jon sends her postcards sometimes but nothing really personal, he feels too much guilt over leaving her like that so he doesn’t feel like he has the right to more personal conversations while those postcards are Gwen’s greatest treasure, she has memorized every word, traced every letter
this is also why she wants to know what’s going on in the OIAR because it reminds her of her dad. imagine Gwen growing obsessed with the Archivist because she remembers overhearing Jon and Elias talking about. maybe this way she will find out what her dad is doing. maybe if she learns more, he will come home
Gwen ends up contacting Elias after season one ending, because she is out of her depth and no matter their differences, he is still her father and she trusts his judgement (only a little bit, he did let Jon leave without a return date). Jon returns at the end of season 2 and Gwen is just. so happy. she hasn’t seen him in decades but she recognises Jon immediately. Alice is the one who says “why does Gwen’s dad sounds like Chester?” while Gwen is busy holding back tears and herself from hugging Jon. she is mad at him, after all!!
WHY is Jon leaving and feeling too guilty to build a proper relationship with his daughter instead of just like. coming back reguarly so damn accurate. He would, the idiot. He also writes her much bigger, sappier, softer letters too and then feels ridiculous and not send them after all.
Watches her from afar while she gets very closed off emotionally….. aaaaaah, etc.
whenever Jon talks to Elias for Beholding related reasons he is always like “how is Gwen doing? 🥺 is she happy with her classes? tell her that I love her” and Elias is like “you know you could just tell her that. to her face”. but Jon is just Convinced that Gwen hates him and no matter what Elias says, he doesn’t change his mind
they’d be so painfully awkward when Jon comes back. they are both so repressed they never say what they mean. and Gwen is so mean while holding herself back from crying and clinging to Jon to make sure he doesn’t leave again. and Jon is just “ah yes this is what I deserve for being the worst father ever 😔”
and also Gwen finding those letters, realizing that Jon kept tabs on her life and never stopped loving her like she feared. Alice finds her in a pile of letters having a full on breakdown
