Really feels like the gravity of people getting chained to rocks is getting lost on you right now.
[ it's kind of frustrating how quickly tate's moved on from that, but derek has kind of come to expect this. and... he was right, when he said there was nothing derek can do, so. even though he's irritated and scared and still stuck thinking of the sea, he just dwells in this conversation for lack of any other option. ]
Wi-Fi. You don't know enough about technology to assume how robots work. Besides — we've had at least one genuine robotic person show up here in the long history of this city, I think. Doubt that would have happened if there was an over-reaching sexbot conspiracy in the works behind the scenes.
Kind of heartless. You've probably come close to failing your quota before, too. If you hadn't had me in those early months, you might have ended up out there, too.
[ and immediately, right on schedule, derek feels guilty for being frustrated with tate and makes excuses for him in his head. same as always. ]
It's not you. Sorry. Just kind of tense. Scared, maybe. It's fucked up that this kind of thing happens so often. And that could have been you out there. I don't like thinking about that. That could have been me out there. Stiles. I hate it.
Yeah. It's oppressive. Always has been, but — feels like one big fuck you to those who already stuck out their rules for a full year. I... probably don't need to ask, but. You're covered, right? I mean. If I got sent home, you'd still be reaching quota?
Nothing wrong with adapting. Probably better for you to get a little calloused. You used to have a pretty hard time, here. I'm glad that it doesn't seem to be quite so difficult anymore.
[Part of Tate wants to go back, to be sad and reclusive. To survive over live just so Derek won't say he's moved on enough to not need him. He can't help that instinctive feeling. Tate takes a pause before replying:]
i'm glad you noticed u always watch over me. i like it. i'm glad i make u proud
You do. I care about you. Always have. It's good. Seeing you grow. You used to worry that you wouldn't be able to. So. That's why it matters so much to see you being better. Doing better.
[ who knows what will happen, should derek find out the horrible things that tate has done despite derek's belief that he's changed. "grown". ]
Just. You know. Tell me. If you ever want me to stop doing that. Watching over you. I know I can be a lot. When it comes to being protective.
[ where as derek's reply comes a little too slow. he just — pauses, feeling something constrict in his chest. guilt, again. as always, with tate. ]
I won't.
Just want you to have control of your own life. Your own choices. I don't want to make them for you the way I used to. That's the only space I'm giving you. I hope you know that. You're still as important to me as you ever were.
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[ it's kind of frustrating how quickly tate's moved on from that, but derek has kind of come to expect this. and... he was right, when he said there was nothing derek can do, so. even though he's irritated and scared and still stuck thinking of the sea, he just dwells in this conversation for lack of any other option. ]
Wi-Fi.
You don't know enough about technology to assume how robots work.
Besides — we've had at least one genuine robotic person show up here in the long history of this city, I think.
Doubt that would have happened if there was an over-reaching sexbot conspiracy in the works behind the scenes.
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also what do u want me to do? go volunteer at the beach to save the other sad souls?
i mean they failed quota, they brought that on themselves
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Kind of heartless.
You've probably come close to failing your quota before, too.
If you hadn't had me in those early months, you might have ended up out there, too.
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i don't know what u want me to say
i hate the city
hate what's happening
and i don't approve of it
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[ and immediately, right on schedule, derek feels guilty for being frustrated with tate and makes excuses for him in his head. same as always. ]
It's not you. Sorry.
Just kind of tense. Scared, maybe.
It's fucked up that this kind of thing happens so often.
And that could have been you out there. I don't like thinking about that.
That could have been me out there. Stiles.
I hate it.
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i think ur right, something's unsettling about it all
i'm sorry if i'm rude
i just idk
im getting too used to this
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I... probably don't need to ask, but.
You're covered, right? I mean.
If I got sent home, you'd still be reaching quota?
Nothing wrong with adapting. Probably better for you to get a little calloused.
You used to have a pretty hard time, here.
I'm glad that it doesn't seem to be quite so difficult anymore.
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me and marcus would have it covered
[Tate says because it's easier than saying he's a bit of a slut that gets around to the guy who might get jealous over it.]
time's helped
people too. you have.
do i really seem better?
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[ he says, immediately irritated. shouldn't have asked. moving on. ]
I think so. Less sad. Trying new things. Meeting new people.
Seems like you're living more than surviving, sometimes.
It's nice to see.
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i'm glad you noticed
u always watch over me. i like it.
i'm glad i make u proud
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It's good. Seeing you grow.
You used to worry that you wouldn't be able to. So.
That's why it matters so much to see you being better. Doing better.
[ who knows what will happen, should derek find out the horrible things that tate has done despite derek's belief that he's changed. "grown". ]
Just. You know.
Tell me. If you ever want me to stop doing that.
Watching over you.
I know I can be a lot. When it comes to being protective.
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[A fast, nearly too much so, response.]
i like it.
so don't stop
and don't give me space or
any other shit. stay around. forever
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I won't.
Just want you to have control of your own life. Your own choices. I don't want to make them for you the way I used to.
That's the only space I'm giving you. I hope you know that.
You're still as important to me as you ever were.
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you're just really important to me
more than anyone else here
[In a certain way. So it's not a lie? Marcus and Derek both get spun the same story, but with different yarn.]
i dont want to come to the den but
can we hang out somewhere else
sometime.