I was sort of hoping the supervisor would step up and be like wait a minute. I really hope he doesn’t let her go through with this just so Miel can go forward with his offer…because I sort of feel like he would be like “Screw you” and go after Abby.
I honestly think that the people who had hoped that Acier would do more after the last page were bound to feel let down. Acier obviously is thinking mostly professional and doesn’t even understand how people like Amaryllis function. On top of that, Abeille had agreed to do what he had asked her to – protect Miel – and she had been the one ending the talk. Abeille, not Acier, had gotten up after she had made her statement, obviously wanting to leave and he had granted her that request – probably also because he’s obviously not super-good when it comes to reading and reacting to emotional issues and Abeille had been visibly fighting her tears. I think both of them wanted to end the talk.
I also wonder how much Acier really cares about Abeille. I am very glad that so far, he is not the manipulative person others suspected him to be, but I do believe that he is basically focused on his job. He handled the matter professionally and fairly (since he also asked Abeille to report the dude who bullied her), he didn’t fire her because she had been through a lot and he heard good things about her from Miel and Botan – but she is still just a tiny cog in the clockwork, just one employee out of maybe hundreds or even thousands that he is responsible for. While the matter with Amaryllis is something he desperately wants to get under control, both for Eyebright and for Miel, Abeille is, in truth, someone he can live without and if she ends up returning to Pasque and consequently, Amaryllis drops her antics, that’s probably okay for Acier, if not even the easiest solution since it won’t involve any more actions on his part. The only unknown factor in this is Miel and how he would react to Abeille possibly leaving, but with Acier not really understanding interpersonal relationships all too well, I wonder if he’s even considering that.
In the end, Acier will see Abeille again the next day, when she has to report to him as instructed, so I think that letting her leave for now so that she can compose herself was a very logical solution for Acier.
I feel for Abeille and fear that she will indeed just attempt to return to Pasque now, no matter that she has not only Miel, but very obviously also friends like Botan, who would surely support her. She sees through her mother’s manipulations and plans, but she can’t free herself on her own because Amaryllis has obviously had years of manipulating Abeille into being the one suffering and keeping issues away from other people. The solution to everyone looking from the outside would simply be telling Amaryllis to go and pound sand while confiding in her friends and support network or contacting a therapist to get the needed help, love and support, but Abeille, guilt-stricken because of Evette and manipulated for too long, obviously doesn’t believe that she deserves that or can fight against her mother.
While this is now a somewhat forseeable plot at the moment because, well, that’s just how people (mal)function, I hold out hope for something good to happen. So not something predictable like Abeille packing and Miel trying to stop her last-minute, but more something like Abeille now going to Miel and telling him about everything. That would be really nice.
Honestly, people are reading way, way too much into Acier in general. He’s behaving EXACTLY how I would expect a manager to behave in this situation. Abeille’s family and emotional state aren’t his to manage. And he would actually be crossing professional boundaries by attempting to do so, especially by the standards of large corporations.
People seem to want someone to come swooping in to save Abeille, but her boss’ boss is the wrong fit for that role.
I’m kinda hoping that Poppy engages her intrusive, controlling side and channels it against Amaryllis. I mean, she’s already jumped in to run interference between Amaryllis & Abielle before, whereas everyone else is pretty much bowled over by Amaryllis.
Not that she could solve the problem on her own, but she’s the only one of these (lovable) dorks that seems capable of understanding who Amaryllis is and what she’s doing, so she could help spur other things into motion.
I’m so confused. The Mom wants to file this thing on her daughter’s behalf but she’s 23… She’s of age. She can just say that it’s false. I guess rules are different in Space xD.
That’s not how things work when there is social stigma involved, on earth, I think. Accusations cause harm. Retractions don’t stick. Eyebright doesn’t want the spectacle, I think. And, sweet Abeille still thinks she has to take everything on alone, even after Miel put his heart into showing he’s there for her.
It’d still probably go on record as an official complaint though, both for Miel and for Abeille. Which, even if it doesn’t result in any kind of official consequences, will still probably serve Amaryllis’s purposes of trying to make Abeille as miserable as possible.
One just wishes that her Father steps up and stands up for his little girl. I think that woman is just as controlling of her husband as she is of her children.
I find her behavior super interesting; she must be trying to spare her mothers feelings or weigh the potential loss of parental ‘love’ to let her have this much control. Amaryllis crossed a line a long time ago and Abeille would do best to cut her out – unless shes financially dependant on her, that is. Abuse victim or not, Abeille is an adult and needs to stand up to this person. Dad should help, but the ball really is in Abeille’s court. Rip Amaryllis apart and send her home in an emotional stupor. If she wants to later have a relationship, she needs to abide to boundaries.
I suspect you are fortunate enough not to have a similar kind of relationship to your parents.
Because, what you’re saying sounds good in black-and-white text, but the ingrained lesson to obey your parents no matter what, even as an adult, is extremely difficult to fight. Especially when you feel you don’t have support.
I’ve been there, I’m *still* there. And god I wish it were that easy. But abusers and manipulators like Amaryllis don’t pay attention to other people’s boundaries unless it suits them – and very likely would be just as willing to smash past the boundaries once Abeille’s guard lowers, or she gets what she wants.
My relationship is good now – as an adult – but was not so much then. Of course, I do recognize that I am fortunate not to have it as bad as some do.
I am wondering if we may be crossing regional sub-cultures, Rowan. If so, that would be quite interesting! Many of the people in the area I grew up in had a sort of understanding that you were not bound to parental rules as an adult. Some of the parents tried to meddle or control but often fail eventually unless there is some sort of financial asset to use. But lots of people that I knew, including my parents themselves, were snarky adults that rebelled in their 20’s. Some would have to abide to rules when still under the parents roof, but parents were advisors or just friends past that. In the best situation, you would screw up in your 20’s and they would be there, but lots of learning occurred because you (and maybe your friends) would have to clean up most of your own problems.
Of course, I have run into a few people that had a different attitude due to a tight-knit community. And there are other cultures that have a heavier influence from their parents. Can’t speak for places in England, Australia, Spain, Mexico, or India; so it’s entirely possible that Abeille’s culture or community allows parents to carry more weight.
Ah, sorry to hear that you are in a similar situation. That totally sucks. Sounds really easy to me because so many in my generation and general location don’t have those sort of ties and many adults walk away from abusive parents. The abuse still hurts them, this is true, but they have an easier time because there is no concept of being disobedient – they cut the abuser from their life and some of them had not talked in 10+ years. Abusers here have to dangle a key or locked trust funds in order to gain control…knew MANY people in that boat – very common story. Other abusers have to use other tactics like manipulate other family members. But yes, I have known many that have walked way for forever.
When she locked herself in her room, that was her trying to establish boundaries. what did mother dearest do? Smash on the door until she got what she wanted.
That’s gonna happen with all boundaries set by Abeille unless they’re backed by something. Any resistance she puts will just be an excuse to use more and more force, damaging everything in the way.
Abeille’s attempt was too passive; too nice. I’m hoping that Abeille’s current tears are those of finally making the decision to be harsh with her mother – to finally give a icy ‘no’ and kick her out.
Again, there has to be a reason for Abeille cowering to her mother as if she is a powerless child. Perhaps, as discussed above with Rowan, obediance into adulthood may be learned within her community culture or maybe she was raised to think that this is love. Could also be a consequence of long term abuse. Either way, Abeille’s not legally obligated to go back to her home planet because she is an adult and Ameryllis’ power has limits.
My impression is that problems go deeper for Abeille, than could be fixed by just blocking Amaryllis from her life. Boundaries need to be internal, I think, to be affective. For me, cutting people out of my life in anger didn’t remove them from my psyche. I was giving them control over my life, by doing that. I had to get to a point where I was sufficiently detached from them in addition to the specific ways that I denied certain paths to communication.
For example, at one point I caused email to bounce. But, this had repercussions and caused more headaches. Really, I was making myself more bound to them, in anger and provoking a reaction from them.
For me, maybe for Abeille, I had to think of it as temporarily setting boundaries that don’t cancel them from my life but just mean that I need space for now. This also meant, not hating them. The practical steps taken were to block some avenues of communication, but the actual boundaries were in my mind, not the physical actions taken. I’m not completely free of the problem, but significantly so.
That is just me. I think it’s the case for Abeille too, but I could be wrong.
Also, I see this main story arc as relevant to most of my relationships with others, not just people who are as difficult as Amaryllis. My perspective, being older and being trans-femme, makes it seem like cancelling people is a typical way that people deal with problems now. Me being the canceled person makes it upsetting every time I see the ease with which people want to expel people from their lives. People love division and resentment. People always have since they are addictive, but it’s a pandemic these days, it seems to me. Ultimately, communication ends being good, within people’s genuine comfort range and capacity to share themselves with others.
I was sort of hoping the supervisor would step up and be like wait a minute. I really hope he doesn’t let her go through with this just so Miel can go forward with his offer…because I sort of feel like he would be like “Screw you” and go after Abby.
I honestly think that the people who had hoped that Acier would do more after the last page were bound to feel let down. Acier obviously is thinking mostly professional and doesn’t even understand how people like Amaryllis function. On top of that, Abeille had agreed to do what he had asked her to – protect Miel – and she had been the one ending the talk. Abeille, not Acier, had gotten up after she had made her statement, obviously wanting to leave and he had granted her that request – probably also because he’s obviously not super-good when it comes to reading and reacting to emotional issues and Abeille had been visibly fighting her tears. I think both of them wanted to end the talk.
I also wonder how much Acier really cares about Abeille. I am very glad that so far, he is not the manipulative person others suspected him to be, but I do believe that he is basically focused on his job. He handled the matter professionally and fairly (since he also asked Abeille to report the dude who bullied her), he didn’t fire her because she had been through a lot and he heard good things about her from Miel and Botan – but she is still just a tiny cog in the clockwork, just one employee out of maybe hundreds or even thousands that he is responsible for. While the matter with Amaryllis is something he desperately wants to get under control, both for Eyebright and for Miel, Abeille is, in truth, someone he can live without and if she ends up returning to Pasque and consequently, Amaryllis drops her antics, that’s probably okay for Acier, if not even the easiest solution since it won’t involve any more actions on his part. The only unknown factor in this is Miel and how he would react to Abeille possibly leaving, but with Acier not really understanding interpersonal relationships all too well, I wonder if he’s even considering that.
In the end, Acier will see Abeille again the next day, when she has to report to him as instructed, so I think that letting her leave for now so that she can compose herself was a very logical solution for Acier.
I feel for Abeille and fear that she will indeed just attempt to return to Pasque now, no matter that she has not only Miel, but very obviously also friends like Botan, who would surely support her. She sees through her mother’s manipulations and plans, but she can’t free herself on her own because Amaryllis has obviously had years of manipulating Abeille into being the one suffering and keeping issues away from other people. The solution to everyone looking from the outside would simply be telling Amaryllis to go and pound sand while confiding in her friends and support network or contacting a therapist to get the needed help, love and support, but Abeille, guilt-stricken because of Evette and manipulated for too long, obviously doesn’t believe that she deserves that or can fight against her mother.
While this is now a somewhat forseeable plot at the moment because, well, that’s just how people (mal)function, I hold out hope for something good to happen. So not something predictable like Abeille packing and Miel trying to stop her last-minute, but more something like Abeille now going to Miel and telling him about everything. That would be really nice.
Honestly, people are reading way, way too much into Acier in general. He’s behaving EXACTLY how I would expect a manager to behave in this situation. Abeille’s family and emotional state aren’t his to manage. And he would actually be crossing professional boundaries by attempting to do so, especially by the standards of large corporations.
People seem to want someone to come swooping in to save Abeille, but her boss’ boss is the wrong fit for that role.
I’m kinda hoping that Poppy engages her intrusive, controlling side and channels it against Amaryllis. I mean, she’s already jumped in to run interference between Amaryllis & Abielle before, whereas everyone else is pretty much bowled over by Amaryllis.
Not that she could solve the problem on her own, but she’s the only one of these (lovable) dorks that seems capable of understanding who Amaryllis is and what she’s doing, so she could help spur other things into motion.
I’m so confused. The Mom wants to file this thing on her daughter’s behalf but she’s 23… She’s of age. She can just say that it’s false. I guess rules are different in Space xD.
That’s not how things work when there is social stigma involved, on earth, I think. Accusations cause harm. Retractions don’t stick. Eyebright doesn’t want the spectacle, I think. And, sweet Abeille still thinks she has to take everything on alone, even after Miel put his heart into showing he’s there for her.
It’d still probably go on record as an official complaint though, both for Miel and for Abeille. Which, even if it doesn’t result in any kind of official consequences, will still probably serve Amaryllis’s purposes of trying to make Abeille as miserable as possible.
And here she is self-hugging, feeling the cold emanating from her mother even here.
Someone… help.
One just wishes that her Father steps up and stands up for his little girl. I think that woman is just as controlling of her husband as she is of her children.
He’s a textbook enabler, unfortunately.
Why else would she keep him around if he wasn’t relatively obedient appeaser.
Geeze I hope so
I find her behavior super interesting; she must be trying to spare her mothers feelings or weigh the potential loss of parental ‘love’ to let her have this much control. Amaryllis crossed a line a long time ago and Abeille would do best to cut her out – unless shes financially dependant on her, that is. Abuse victim or not, Abeille is an adult and needs to stand up to this person. Dad should help, but the ball really is in Abeille’s court. Rip Amaryllis apart and send her home in an emotional stupor. If she wants to later have a relationship, she needs to abide to boundaries.
I suspect you are fortunate enough not to have a similar kind of relationship to your parents.
Because, what you’re saying sounds good in black-and-white text, but the ingrained lesson to obey your parents no matter what, even as an adult, is extremely difficult to fight. Especially when you feel you don’t have support.
I’ve been there, I’m *still* there. And god I wish it were that easy. But abusers and manipulators like Amaryllis don’t pay attention to other people’s boundaries unless it suits them – and very likely would be just as willing to smash past the boundaries once Abeille’s guard lowers, or she gets what she wants.
My relationship is good now – as an adult – but was not so much then. Of course, I do recognize that I am fortunate not to have it as bad as some do.
I am wondering if we may be crossing regional sub-cultures, Rowan. If so, that would be quite interesting! Many of the people in the area I grew up in had a sort of understanding that you were not bound to parental rules as an adult. Some of the parents tried to meddle or control but often fail eventually unless there is some sort of financial asset to use. But lots of people that I knew, including my parents themselves, were snarky adults that rebelled in their 20’s. Some would have to abide to rules when still under the parents roof, but parents were advisors or just friends past that. In the best situation, you would screw up in your 20’s and they would be there, but lots of learning occurred because you (and maybe your friends) would have to clean up most of your own problems.
Of course, I have run into a few people that had a different attitude due to a tight-knit community. And there are other cultures that have a heavier influence from their parents. Can’t speak for places in England, Australia, Spain, Mexico, or India; so it’s entirely possible that Abeille’s culture or community allows parents to carry more weight.
Ah, sorry to hear that you are in a similar situation. That totally sucks. Sounds really easy to me because so many in my generation and general location don’t have those sort of ties and many adults walk away from abusive parents. The abuse still hurts them, this is true, but they have an easier time because there is no concept of being disobedient – they cut the abuser from their life and some of them had not talked in 10+ years. Abusers here have to dangle a key or locked trust funds in order to gain control…knew MANY people in that boat – very common story. Other abusers have to use other tactics like manipulate other family members. But yes, I have known many that have walked way for forever.
When she locked herself in her room, that was her trying to establish boundaries. what did mother dearest do? Smash on the door until she got what she wanted.
That’s gonna happen with all boundaries set by Abeille unless they’re backed by something. Any resistance she puts will just be an excuse to use more and more force, damaging everything in the way.
Abeille’s attempt was too passive; too nice. I’m hoping that Abeille’s current tears are those of finally making the decision to be harsh with her mother – to finally give a icy ‘no’ and kick her out.
Again, there has to be a reason for Abeille cowering to her mother as if she is a powerless child. Perhaps, as discussed above with Rowan, obediance into adulthood may be learned within her community culture or maybe she was raised to think that this is love. Could also be a consequence of long term abuse. Either way, Abeille’s not legally obligated to go back to her home planet because she is an adult and Ameryllis’ power has limits.
My impression is that problems go deeper for Abeille, than could be fixed by just blocking Amaryllis from her life. Boundaries need to be internal, I think, to be affective. For me, cutting people out of my life in anger didn’t remove them from my psyche. I was giving them control over my life, by doing that. I had to get to a point where I was sufficiently detached from them in addition to the specific ways that I denied certain paths to communication.
For example, at one point I caused email to bounce. But, this had repercussions and caused more headaches. Really, I was making myself more bound to them, in anger and provoking a reaction from them.
For me, maybe for Abeille, I had to think of it as temporarily setting boundaries that don’t cancel them from my life but just mean that I need space for now. This also meant, not hating them. The practical steps taken were to block some avenues of communication, but the actual boundaries were in my mind, not the physical actions taken. I’m not completely free of the problem, but significantly so.
That is just me. I think it’s the case for Abeille too, but I could be wrong.
Also, I see this main story arc as relevant to most of my relationships with others, not just people who are as difficult as Amaryllis. My perspective, being older and being trans-femme, makes it seem like cancelling people is a typical way that people deal with problems now. Me being the canceled person makes it upsetting every time I see the ease with which people want to expel people from their lives. People love division and resentment. People always have since they are addictive, but it’s a pandemic these days, it seems to me. Ultimately, communication ends being good, within people’s genuine comfort range and capacity to share themselves with others.
She would just get labelles hysterical if she was less passive though. And from her mother, it would hurt too.