Aw crap, Mr. Acier saw her. And he’s going to think Amaryllis is going to help him with his “issue” as well. I’m hoping Mr. Acier is kinder to Abeille after seeing Miel’s passion for her.
I know, I saw that last panel and was like, “Oh crap!” too. Problem is Acier may mistake Miel’s ‘passion’ is misplaced if he feels it’s distracting him from work.
Seems like this might be the root of Amaryllis’s issues? She feels she is a failure as a parent, that she abandoned her children, that unless she’s around to personally shephard them, they won’t be able to survive? If the story leads to Abeille proving to Amaryllis that she is now a self-sufficient woman, that probably helps both of them move on from past trauma to a new sort of relationship and outlook on life..
Seeing Mr Acier here is unsettling to me too… I’m much more comfortable with Amaryllis than him… She’s overbearing and controlling but it seems like her personality problems ultimately come from a place of love… she cares about Abeille, but she overvalues her own evaluation of situations and undervalues the people she cares about’s ability to make good adequate choices for themselves. She does that with all of the people she cares about, not just Abeille but also Mallow and Evette. Mr Acier doesn’t make demands like Amaryllis but he seems to be just as manipulative in an even less honest way. Amaryllis is very blunt in telling people what she thinks they should do. Mr Acier is more indirect, never saying something openly, always looking for a way to drive subtle wedges between people that can’t be traced back to him….
I also suspect that where Amaryllis is ultimately driven by concern for Abeille, Mr Acier is driven by jealousy… he may or may not want Miel as a lover but he definitely wants Miel’s time and his talents to be devoted to advancing Mr Acier’s agenda and his team’s success rather than what Miel wants. I’m hopeful that because this comic has been mostly about reconciliation (Ivy and her mother, Amaryllis and Abielle, being the two notable conflicts as yet unresolved) that Mr Acier may rise above that and make amends by the end (I’d like to speculate on where that might lead but I’m not sure if trying to guess the plot’s end points is well liked by all 😉
It’s very pleasant for me to see all these, what seem to me like more nuanced takes on Amaryllis.
Mr. Acier certainly seems more difficult to me than Amaryllis, with his comment about having no time for human relationships https://lovenotfound.com/comic/ch18-p09 . But, he does call Miel “dear” and has been sweet recently, so maybe there are some healthy motivations close to the surface.
Trust me Amaryllis, when someone is actively avoiding you, they won’t feel abandoned. How about spending more quality time with your life partner and stop harassing your adult child? Oy.
So……psycholgoist here with my fancy perspective. Abeille’s mum is suffering from obvious PTSD due to the loss of her older daughter that she did not properly address and is now hyper-fixating on Abeille. Abeille feels guilty and like she abandoned them when her sister died, so she tries to keep the peace even when her mum is going crazy. Her father wants her mother to understand that Abeille is her own person with her own friends and life and happiness, and her mum won’t let her. Her mum thinks she is doing what is “best for her daughter” even when it hurts her, which is a form of abuse. Abeille needs to grow a spine, tell her mum that “no, I will not be returning to the cold-place I was not happy and do whatever you want me to do, and I am happy here!” But we shall see how this all plays out. I can only hope Abeille does this and doesn’t leave, cause that would honestly ruin the story for me if the abuser won.
You know it wouldn’t surprise me if Mallow got more directly involved at some point. While my mom isn’t as bad as Abielle’s mother, she’s still a helicopter parent and my father has stepped in a few times, but unfortunately he’s told me to just ‘listen to mom’ in order to keep the peace, which I find frustrating.
Yes, I agree! This page is telling, I more feel it than see it. Mallow doesn’t seem oblivious too me. He’s not been quick to protect Abeille, but he’s expressed more confidence in her than Amaryllis in what we get to see, and Abeille has dealt with it well. Maybe he trusts how strong she is.
Mallow has that half smile that people get when they are adoring their loved one while they protest assuming blame that no one blames them for.
This page humanizes them both, I agree with Jac. Look at Amaryllis seeking reassurance from Mallow in panels 2 and 3. Her cute misunderstanding in panels 4 and 5. She’s a hurt little girl in the last panel and Mallow beams with love “sweetheart, it will be okay”.
Amaryllis was definitely being snide when she said that rather than acknowledging Poppy as a person in her own right but… Poppy actually started that one: https://lovenotfound.com/comic/ch17-p21/
Poppy and Amaryllis seem to have similar personalities to me, just that Poppy has had time to recognize her own personality flaws and decide she wanted to change her behaviour… at least as far as her friends are concerned. When thrown into a situation with Amaryllis, though, she and Amaryllis seem to just try to purposefully antagonize each other rather than ever seeking understanding and growth.
I am anticipating Amaryllis breaking down in the near future. It may not happen. She may keep all her walls up and continue being unhappy, likely escalating to a level that divides her family further, but this comic has done a good job so far of letting Abeille break down and heal a lot of hurt in other people. “Ammy” has clearly always been a controlling person, but Evette’s death appears to have heightened it to a level of desperation, needing to control everything (and feel needed more importantly) to avoid her own grief. I think when she realizes that she TRULY CANNOT control Abeille and that Abeille has enough support to withstand her, she will break down and have to confront her grief, which could be an enormous period of growth and reconcilliation with her remaining daughter. I want to see it. I want good things for Abeille’s mom and for Abeille (and Mallow). As much as Amaryllis has been been painted as the villain (deservedly) in both the past and present, she’s clearly hurting and it’s very difficult to progress when you’re in that much pain.
Projection much, Ammy dear?
Awww, Mallow, do you remember the days when Amaryllis knew what ‘having fun’ meant? I certainly hope so. She’ll need you to help guide her back there.
No, she doesn’t. You just think she does, Abeille’s mom.
Aw crap, Mr. Acier saw her. And he’s going to think Amaryllis is going to help him with his “issue” as well. I’m hoping Mr. Acier is kinder to Abeille after seeing Miel’s passion for her.
I know, I saw that last panel and was like, “Oh crap!” too. Problem is Acier may mistake Miel’s ‘passion’ is misplaced if he feels it’s distracting him from work.
I love Poppy
Mallow calling her Ammy is cute and slightly troubling, maybe. It’s almost Amma.
Well. I’ve known old couples who called each other “Mama” and “Dad” or “Grandma/Grandpa” so I don’t find it that troubling…
Perhaps he should reinforce this by handing ‘Ammy’ the teddy bear.
HAHAHAHAHA holy cow
Oh. *Oh.* That’s where it’s stemming from. 🙁
I think she was always pretty controlling, as evidenced from flashbacks, but her daughter’s death clearly made it worse.
Noooo Acier Move Along.
DANGER!!! DANGER!!!
Seems like this might be the root of Amaryllis’s issues? She feels she is a failure as a parent, that she abandoned her children, that unless she’s around to personally shephard them, they won’t be able to survive? If the story leads to Abeille proving to Amaryllis that she is now a self-sufficient woman, that probably helps both of them move on from past trauma to a new sort of relationship and outlook on life..
Seeing Mr Acier here is unsettling to me too… I’m much more comfortable with Amaryllis than him… She’s overbearing and controlling but it seems like her personality problems ultimately come from a place of love… she cares about Abeille, but she overvalues her own evaluation of situations and undervalues the people she cares about’s ability to make
goodadequate choices for themselves. She does that with all of the people she cares about, not just Abeille but also Mallow and Evette. Mr Acier doesn’t make demands like Amaryllis but he seems to be just as manipulative in an even less honest way. Amaryllis is very blunt in telling people what she thinks they should do. Mr Acier is more indirect, never saying something openly, always looking for a way to drive subtle wedges between people that can’t be traced back to him….I also suspect that where Amaryllis is ultimately driven by concern for Abeille, Mr Acier is driven by jealousy… he may or may not want Miel as a lover but he definitely wants Miel’s time and his talents to be devoted to advancing Mr Acier’s agenda and his team’s success rather than what Miel wants. I’m hopeful that because this comic has been mostly about reconciliation (Ivy and her mother, Amaryllis and Abielle, being the two notable conflicts as yet unresolved) that Mr Acier may rise above that and make amends by the end (I’d like to speculate on where that might lead but I’m not sure if trying to guess the plot’s end points is well liked by all 😉
It’s very pleasant for me to see all these, what seem to me like more nuanced takes on Amaryllis.
Mr. Acier certainly seems more difficult to me than Amaryllis, with his comment about having no time for human relationships https://lovenotfound.com/comic/ch18-p09 . But, he does call Miel “dear” and has been sweet recently, so maybe there are some healthy motivations close to the surface.
It’s almost adorable that you think that, lady.
“Almost” being the key word.
Trust me Amaryllis, when someone is actively avoiding you, they won’t feel abandoned. How about spending more quality time with your life partner and stop harassing your adult child? Oy.
And with just one sentence, you have humanized her character. I absolutely love this moment. Great writing.
I spy a Kipo and Wolf and Benson! Good taste in cartoons.
So……psycholgoist here with my fancy perspective. Abeille’s mum is suffering from obvious PTSD due to the loss of her older daughter that she did not properly address and is now hyper-fixating on Abeille. Abeille feels guilty and like she abandoned them when her sister died, so she tries to keep the peace even when her mum is going crazy. Her father wants her mother to understand that Abeille is her own person with her own friends and life and happiness, and her mum won’t let her. Her mum thinks she is doing what is “best for her daughter” even when it hurts her, which is a form of abuse. Abeille needs to grow a spine, tell her mum that “no, I will not be returning to the cold-place I was not happy and do whatever you want me to do, and I am happy here!” But we shall see how this all plays out. I can only hope Abeille does this and doesn’t leave, cause that would honestly ruin the story for me if the abuser won.
for what
You know it wouldn’t surprise me if Mallow got more directly involved at some point. While my mom isn’t as bad as Abielle’s mother, she’s still a helicopter parent and my father has stepped in a few times, but unfortunately he’s told me to just ‘listen to mom’ in order to keep the peace, which I find frustrating.
Yes, I agree! This page is telling, I more feel it than see it. Mallow doesn’t seem oblivious too me. He’s not been quick to protect Abeille, but he’s expressed more confidence in her than Amaryllis in what we get to see, and Abeille has dealt with it well. Maybe he trusts how strong she is.
Mallow has that half smile that people get when they are adoring their loved one while they protest assuming blame that no one blames them for.
This page humanizes them both, I agree with Jac. Look at Amaryllis seeking reassurance from Mallow in panels 2 and 3. Her cute misunderstanding in panels 4 and 5. She’s a hurt little girl in the last panel and Mallow beams with love “sweetheart, it will be okay”.
Is that a kipo reference i see in last panel? You go girl（´∀`）ｂ
That’s payback for your > Abeilles “friend” < remark in ch18pg20 beeeatch! XD
Amaryllis was definitely being snide when she said that rather than acknowledging Poppy as a person in her own right but… Poppy actually started that one: https://lovenotfound.com/comic/ch17-p21/
Poppy and Amaryllis seem to have similar personalities to me, just that Poppy has had time to recognize her own personality flaws and decide she wanted to change her behaviour… at least as far as her friends are concerned. When thrown into a situation with Amaryllis, though, she and Amaryllis seem to just try to purposefully antagonize each other rather than ever seeking understanding and growth.
Is it true that you named Mallow after the plant Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), since the roots are used to detangle matted curls of hair?
Sounds more like Amaryllis needs Abeille.
I am anticipating Amaryllis breaking down in the near future. It may not happen. She may keep all her walls up and continue being unhappy, likely escalating to a level that divides her family further, but this comic has done a good job so far of letting Abeille break down and heal a lot of hurt in other people. “Ammy” has clearly always been a controlling person, but Evette’s death appears to have heightened it to a level of desperation, needing to control everything (and feel needed more importantly) to avoid her own grief. I think when she realizes that she TRULY CANNOT control Abeille and that Abeille has enough support to withstand her, she will break down and have to confront her grief, which could be an enormous period of growth and reconcilliation with her remaining daughter. I want to see it. I want good things for Abeille’s mom and for Abeille (and Mallow). As much as Amaryllis has been been painted as the villain (deservedly) in both the past and present, she’s clearly hurting and it’s very difficult to progress when you’re in that much pain.
Projection much, Ammy dear?
Awww, Mallow, do you remember the days when Amaryllis knew what ‘having fun’ meant? I certainly hope so. She’ll need you to help guide her back there.
Narcissists just lose their s**t when the the people they’re trying to manipulate see through their game and won’t let them push their buttons.
“Actually, what she needs is less of you”.