I guess what bothered me was... she acknowledged how shit it is to be a Sub in the Down. And was like - why would I want that? When she can have the glitzy shit, and the resources. Like, those I understand... but I don't know. It's like they made her a - a.. trap? Like maybe they're watching her now, waiting for her to do something.

[So it's enough for Tate to want to take a step back from those card games, from her in general, not to risk being entangled if they do have some sort of zoomed in lens following her now. And maybe he is still a bit offended of how she talked down about the world some subs still live in, just out of context. He figures he has to do his own shit now, lest he be sitting on his ass.

He exhales hard.]

Anyway. I thought you- since you're a dom, you could help. I have... access to some stuff, too, but the... more doms the better.

[Hey look at this condensation ring on the table, it's so fucking fascinating. Tate rubs his fingers around it, struggling for a second before his eyelashes flutter and he dares to look up. Why this suddenly feels like a big thing, something that makes him want to throw up, he's not sure. He can feel his heart in his chest and he knows Derek can feel it too.

He hopes he doesn't take back his feelings on being impressed now.]