013 ♐ Video ♐ I'm writing this letter and wishing you well; Mama, we all go to hell

[codename_duchess]

[Archer's been thinking. Running around teasing the flooded passengers was a good distraction, but his talk with Rogue has stuck in his mind. So this time he looks a bit more somber, although no more sober than usual. He's sitting on his bed, tie undone, sipping a gin and tonic with Kazak sprawled out behind him.]

Hey, I just have a question.

Is it uh - shit. [He falters, uncharacteristic for him.] Is it normal to hate your mother?

Comments

[fire_punk]

Is she your real mom or a stepmom?

[codename_duchess]

Real mom. I don't have a dad.

[fire_punk]

I don't know that it's normal but... I'm not sure that it's not normal, either. It depends, I guess.

[codename_duchess]

What if she's your mother and you love her but you also really hate her?

[fire_punk]

I'm not sure. I love my real mom but she's dead. And my stepmom's a total bitch. I guess if she did something. [He shrugs. Why did he answer this? He's no good at talking about feelings.]

[codename_duchess]

What'd your stepmom do?

[routemistress]

Depends on the mother, in my experience.

[codename_duchess]

If you only knew mine.

[routemistress]

You're a bit of a plonker, but you're basically all right. I don't see you hating anyone for no reason.

[codename_duchess]

Please. I am an erudite and amazing gentleman. And I don't hate people for no reason so you're half right.

[routemistress]

Good enough. Any road, you're allowed to hate 'er. Honestly, this boat makes me grateful I never met me parents sometimes.

[codename_duchess]

Yeah, but she's my mother. [This is a point he can't get past. The train of thought brakes to a halt.]

It doesn't have anything to do with the boat.

private because Steph is considerate!

[ichoosefight]

I can't imagine it's any different than hating your father.

private and thank you Steph :]

[codename_duchess]

I wouldn't know. I don't have a father.

private

[ichoosefight]

All that means is your parents can't abuse each other.

Contrary to popular belief, you're absolutely allowed to hate your relatives. Even the really close ones.

private

[codename_duchess]

I don't think my mother would ever let a man abuse her.

Do you hate your father?

[routemistress]

So? Doesn't absolve 'er from treating you decently.

Most of the people 'ere 'ave 'ad parent trouble, I mean.

private

[ichoosefight]

Good for her. [ No, seriously. ]

Most days, yeah.

[codename_duchess]

Yeah, except it does. She's allowed to do that.

private

[codename_duchess]

She's scary.

...huh. Okay. And what do you do about that?

[routemistress]

Archer, my love, I don't know what she did and I'm not asking, but take it from me - birthing someone's not carte blanche to treat 'em like shite. No excuses.

[codename_duchess]

...people can raise their kids the way they want.

[routemistress]

No, they bloody can't. Well, in practise they actually can, 'cause too often no one stops 'em. But that's a whole other person you're raising, and they're not obliged to love someone that treated 'em wrong.

private

[ichoosefight]

It's been a whole lot easier since he died.

I did what I had to do. I took care of my mom as best as I could. Most of the time that meant keeping him away from her. Sometimes that meant biting my tongue and not pissing him off.

Mostly it just really sucked. All the time.

Private;

[youwillgotohell]

I never knew my mother. But it is overly common, at least here, for us to hate at least one of our parents.