I can't find the post, but a user said their headcanon Lip was jealous of Ian because of his relationship with Monica, the “closeness" they had, earning the title of the favorite kid by Monica standards, something something. That 1x10 scene with Lip and Monica tells you everything you need to know about his feelings towards her. He wants to love her but refuses, understandably so. And it's obvious Helene is ominously written to fill that motherly void Lip has. But I just constantly think of the line "I want to surround myself with minds like Youens and Runyon."
I'm rambling and not making sense but, I honestly believe Lip was Frank's favorite out of the boys. He hated Ian, only used Carl for personal gain and liked him for it, was too I'll to genuinely "value" Liam. Not to say that being Frank's favorite is ok 💀 Lip was obviously Youens favorite student, as fucky as their relationship was, and here comes Helene. He was Helene's "special student." What a way to feel like a favorite student by two professors that only feed the void your parents created.
Youens will always be an alcoholic no matter how much you wish he cared for you. His own daughter resented him. You're reliving what Frank created. And Helene, you want her to be with you, you nurture you cause your mom never could and she found a new kid to emotionally manipulate. Even if she had good intentions with him in S5, she took advantage of a vulnerable teenager. ANYWAY, back to Lip.
Really, wanting to be your professor's favorite student to see if it somehow fills that parental void. Only for both your biological father and "chosen" father to die, alcohol related deaths by the way. Then there's your biological mom who died and you never rebuilt your relationship with her because why would you. Not only did you find a mommy you could slide your dick in, the bitch groomed you, left you high and dry, just like Monica, and then you relapsed. You thought you could fill that Monica hole with her, but, just like with your "dads," you ended up with no mom either. I'm rambling, ate a lot of sugar and this is the result, I'm thinking about Lip again.
Lip I'm so sorry. You're a tragic fuck. I love you.
