Maybe he thought... your mom would be better for you than he would be. He couldn't have known what kind of person she was.

[ But Derek's not really capable of helping Tate through something like this - and he's pretty sure talking about it too much will only send him into a spiral, appropriately enough - so he switches gears. Focuses on Tate being fucking blasphemous. ]

Anyway. Who knows. Not exactly a stranger to getting tied up.

[ he says. self-deprecating and kind of bitter. thanks kate. also, ]

I didn't just pick it because I have a fondness for threes. Means something to me.