#earthrunes

"Then why do you want your mother held prisoner 24 hours a day by your father? Maybe the man has a problem being a slaver?"

"DON'T TALK ABOUT HIM LIKE THAT!"

"They worked together before! They can work together now! They LOVE each other!!!!!"

"Adam... you just defended your father.. sort of. Considering you've been treating him like the enemy. I'm surprised" He admits

"Yeah, I'm full of that. Sir."

Adam takes a breath. "That isn't how they are. I don't know what everyone's talking about."

"So many jokes I could make" he says then says "Adam, do you remember the rules of courtly love?"

"Y... yes..... " He recalls them. Maybe slowly.

"Then why are you fucking with the process man?"

"your mother is the bashful beloved. your father the ardent suitor. She pulls back, he circles and earns her again. But you're messing with the SYSTEM"

"I don't want to be PART of the system! I want to be OUT of it for them!"

"Let them sort their own shit out."

"No you don't. You made your mom feel like shit. You wouldn't go to her classes without making her feel like shit. Your dad, he might be in and out in 30 minutes tops to say hi to you, but instead you treat him like the bad guy for NOT being a slave holder... and leave him stuck there even more than he was blocking your way. You're being a bully, Adam. You are bullying them to doing thing your way and fuck their own agency... it's unworthy of you, unworthy of any Fiona. Trying to control love"

Adam's chest heaves, trying to listen and accept this. "Sir... can I tell you something? Private? Not.... .like.... to tell anyone else? Promise?"

"What if this secret hurts you?"

"It doesn't matter."

"THAT doesn't matter."

"Then I promise" he says

"Dad busted my balls for liking girls. All of them, if they liked. For not being like he was. And now he's dealing with the same thing and I.... I can't. I can't. He had to figure it out."

"how come I get the feeling that he will remember it differently. Adam, did your father shut you off from all contact with him when that happened?"

"No."

"But that's what I choose. They figure it out, and come see me."

"I can't get into the middle of it."

"Adam, they'e not asking you for dating advice. Getting into the middle of that is ALL the interaction you seem willing to do. You rage or go cold to punish them for not doing it your way. You don't see it, but you do. Then, when they try to be parents.. you shut them out ... it's like they have to agree with you or they're not worth your time. Serisouly lad, the red in our House is NOT for Maga hats"

He sighs "You're hurting. I know you are , but lad.. your attempt to selectively be a family member on just your terms is backfiring"

"Then... what do I do? To get them to be together?"

"You let the Courtly love pursuit take it's natural course. Don't do that 'yes sir no sir thank you sir' bullshit to your father or that 'yes ma'am thank you ma'am' crap to your mother. It does nothing to hide the fact you're angry with them and you're punishing them. Not to get biblical, but honor them, respect them. They've earned that."

"BUT I'M ANGRY!!!"

"Well, at least you admit it to me. Why not tell them you're angry. You've been showing them.. hurting them in a dozen small ways. tell them, maybe you won't hurt them"

"They don't KNOW??????"

"They know. They fucking know."

"They know you hate them. Is that what you want to send as a message"

"Right now??!?! YES!"

"Ah." A frown

But the hurt is clear in his eyes.

"Adam, we're not a house of Hate."

"I... I know....."

"And, frankly, you don't want to be a man of hate. It's not a happy way to live"

He puts a hand on his shoulder "Look. I won't tell your father what you said to me, but I think maybe you should tell him you're very angry with him and your mom and whether it makes sense or not it's hard not to be angry at them. "

"If your parents couldn't stay together... you'd be ok?"

"No, but i wouldn't make them want to kill themselves" He says

"Fine. I'll say as you say, Sir."

A brow "Adam, so help me, if you start that yes sir no sir crap on ME to get me to shut up..." A sigh

"Sorry, Sir." Sincere.

"Adam, you can love someone and be angry at them. You know this right?"

"I do." grimly.

"Well, you're getting an example. Look. I won't tell your dad what you said. I told you I wouldn't. But I am going to give you advice now and then. Like it or not. A mentor is almost required"

"Sir?"

"I mean, I'm going to butt into your personal life because I care about you" A smile

"Sir... thank you but I just want them to take care of each other. If they want to. "