#tom is actually unhinged when it comes to greg

[endgameinthenorth]

What truly shocks me most is Greg's 180 shift around Tom. Gone are my doubts that Greg's merely putting up with Tom, not attracted to him or that Greg's actually straight. Amazingly, the more straight Greg tries to act the less I believe it.

I honest to God thought it would be more subtle in their shifted dynamics, but it's been a few months since the last episode and apparently Tom and Greg are occasionally out getting drinks together. Greg is being mentioned by Shiv like he's the other woman. Things have shifted more dramatically than I envisioned since we last saw them. I knew it was coming, it was teased in interviews that the power dynamic may be be shifting. Greg is going to be the one this season pushing Tom in the direction he wants.

We saw glimpses of it at the end of last season with Greg telling Tom to "prove it" when Tom said he fucks like a bullet train; Tom was out of his depth to respond. It was the most forthcoming and direct Greg had ever been in a scene. Almost like what he really wanted was shining through. We saw Greg casually call Tom, "Tommy" with a pat on the back just before he sold his soul to Tom. They seemed more at ease with one another, like Greg finally felt comfortable in his place at Tom's side.

And now the first thing we see of them this season is Greg greeting Tom by sliding up his body and in his personal space in every possible scene, whispering in his ear. He's more open, acting silly and smiling.

Bridget-Random-Fuck (who it sounds like didn't even make him cum) was just there by all appearances to get a jealous reaction out of Tom. She didn't have any status so it wasn't like he was climbing her on his way to a better conquest. She was another notch like the rest. So what's with all the posturing?

Last season, he speaks of falling head over heels for a woman and then has no true motivation and follow through. But he gushed to Tom all about her and got a visceral reaction out of him. Unfortunately Tom could not analyze his own emotions and deflected, stating Greg had ruined his mood but not knowing why.

In an interview with Nicholas Braun he hinted at Greg going to the "dark side" and how it was freeing for Greg to no longer feel restricted between what's right and wrong (gay dad causing you to repress?). By all appearances this so far has manifested as Greg being given permission to actually be more authentic with his feelings towards Tom. The women are just a necessary part and have an undercurrent of, "aren't I great - aren't you jealous?" He is in Tom's space, he wants Tom's approval. He wants Tom. He just needs to feel like he's allowed to... I imagine with the divorce eminent he feels closer to obtaining him. Perhaps Greg will be the unhinged one this season.

In season one when he asked if Tom was trying to seduce him and Tom said he was, that hair tuck bashful reaction? I don't think that was a coincidence — that was an intentional filming choice. Now I really truly see it.

[lilbeanz]

Hello! Not an ask, just wanted to say I adore your content; you're so skilled. I came across your art first, and the drama of even the smallest panel; I'd been eyeing JoDT & sequels for awhile because it was a WIP, but I caved and binged bks1-4 in about three days. I reread the "Eat your heart out Pureblood society" scene at least once a day, thank you for that, superb execution. I also really liked, in the first book, the interactions between Malfoy & Harry, and the very gradual "well, he's our friend now." The development of their friendship has done a great job of re-defining the characters and their relationships. The series feels like its own thing, and the fact that Ginny never even had the diary in book 2 only cemented that. I've really appreciated the deviation from Draco-the-tortured-hero/Draco-making-amends (which I also love to read). Horrors of the Heir was a great twist and really put the whole series in another tier, tbh. CoS was like, my least favorite of the series as a kid (alongside GoF, which has grown on me as I read fanfic) and your version of bk 2 easily established the micro-obsession of your series for me. Also, Crabbe & Goyle?? "They're actually really good friends"?? "Just to see if we feel anything"?? Adorable. Obsessed.

tldr; Your rewrite of the series is incredibly unique, and I admire how you've really taken the series and made it something completely fun and new and modern 💜💜💜

Looking forward to the rest. Thank you for sharing!

AaaAaaAaaHhhHhhHh?!??!?!

This is such a lovely comment, I can't even -- I -- I'm --

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you're enjoying the series so far! It really has been such a challenging, fun project!

I adored writing the "Eat Your Heart Out" scene. People tend to forget that Draco Malfoy is canonically *very* dramatic when he wants to be. Yes, he can be sulky and scheming, but he also shouts taunts across the courtyard, and puts on scenes to make older students laugh at Harry’s expense, even going so far as to dress up as a Dementor to make his "rival" lose in Quidditch.

The Horror of the Heir was such an experience for me as the author, because CoS is my favourite book from the series (weird, ik) and looking back, I sort of realise I could’ve squeezed in so much more. But last May, 45k was a HUGE amount of words for me! And now I'm churning out 100k like nobody's business 💀

✨️Growth✨️

And speaking of growth, the reason I had Draco take Tom Riddle’s diary was purely because of growth. It would've taken him far longer to change as a person if he hadn't taken Ginny's place. A pivotal character development moment, as he reflects on his upbringing etc...

Crabbe and Goyle generally get overlooked in the fandom, and it really bugs me. Vince dies canonically, yes, but I absolutely love it when fic writers incorporate Greg as an actual character in post-war fics, and acknowledge that Vince was Draco’s friend.

It's always Blaise, Pansy, and Theo because they're intelligent and societies definition of "attractive." I mean, each to their own of course, but I could write an entire essay on the injustice I feel for Crabbe and Goyle!

And then, of course, the development of Draco’s relationship with the Golden Trio, specifically Harry. Just -- Ugh-- these silly kids make me so unhinged!😂

It wouldn't be all sunshine and rainbows to begin with. Of course it wouldn't. It's a rocky start, with bumps along the way (and more big bumps to come), but I really do love the way I have progressed their relationship, and I'm not even gonna be humble about it! I really do love my own fic!!!

All this to say, thank you so much!!! I realise fix-its are a very popular type of fic to write, but I really do try to keep it as fresh and unique as possible, so the fact that I really am able to give my readers an experience means the world to me💖

[breaksomegreggs]

Greg after learning that Tom told Logan about the kid's plans, suddenly clicks that Tom actually did push his wife down the stairs, called him Sporus when asking him to come with him, and remembering that Tom is a completely unhinged individual, remains in a state of constant panic for the rest of the time they're in Italy fearing that Tom's gonna basically show up at his hotel room with surgical tools and Shiv's clothes for him to wear.

[loveandthings11]

How Deep My Love Goes, Chapter 12

Read on AO3 Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch 5 Ch 6 Ch 7 Ch 8 Ch 9 Ch 10 Ch 11

Fic Summary: A Kenrava-focused fix-it alongside canon 💗

Chapter Summary: SEASON 2 ERA! Roman makes his decision. Kendall and Stewy kick off the business media frenzy around the hostile takeover. Kendall works on saving Vaulter against all odds. Rava and Kendall take a trip to her parents’ house. Featuring Kendall in glasses!

New Year's Day

In here, it’s surreal.

Kendall looks over at his suit jacket flung over the armchair, Brioni pants wrinkled on the floor. He sees Rava’s messy hair draped over her peaceful face, lipstick smeared the way he wanted it. A pile of blue silk is by the door because it wasn’t staying on past the click of the lock. A news broadcast comes over the radio and he turns it off. He doesn’t need to hear it- there’s no news bigger than what he did yesterday.

Outside, Logan’s calling him a druggie. Shiv’s rolling her eyes as “insane,” “unhinged,” spill out of her lips and Tom nods at everything he hears. Outside, Roman’s pacing nervously, Tabitha’s pouring Bailey’s in her coffee and watching him decide his future. Greg’s looking around, plotting, deciding nothing and waiting for the next possibility to walk in. Marcia’s shaking her head, Connor’s condemning his little brother for the loss of family harmony that wasn’t really there. Outside, they’re waiting.

But in here, Kendall is a king. It’s New Year’s Day and no one can touch him. His birthright is coming. He’s never loved the sunrise so much.

The door knocker thunks on the heavy wooden door and Kendall gets up to answer it because kings don’t hide. Roman’s right there when he pulls it partially open like Austerlitz deja vu.

“So, I kind of have to talk to you,” Roman starts.

Kendall glances back at Rava, still asleep, and steps outside the door, closing it quietly behind him and turning to look skeptically at his brother. He’s feeling generous enough to give him a chance to explain what happened.

“Uh, yeah, I guess you do have to talk to me. Where were you last night?” Kendall asks. Roman’s reluctant and rubs the back of his head.

“I was talking to Dad, okay?”

Kendall smiles into the scoff, like he knew it.

“Right. Okay. Yeah, you know what, bro, not everyone’s cut out for this. So don’t worry about it. I’m sure Dad will find a nice little cage for you at the studio again.”

Roman rolls his eyes and tries not to take the bait.

“Maybe I can tell you some shit you didn’t already know, can you consider that?” Kendall stays quiet against his instinct and Roman sighs. “Look. I don’t think it’s outside the realm of possibility that you will crash and burn, because, I mean-“ he gestures at Kendall. “-you’re you.”

“That’s not going to happen. Do you have a point?” Kendall replies evenly. It won’t take much to tip things into being overwhelming and he wants to focus on the good parts of this day.

“Fucking- obviously,” Roman says, irritated. He continues slowly. “How would you feel about me, maybe, giving you some information- when I deem it’s good for me- and maybe just generally not totally fucking you?”

“Wow. That’s a really great deal for nobody,” Kendall says. “I told you before, Dad’s going to do nothing for you like he did nothing for me. Dude, I had an actual job at Waystar and he did what he did. I mean, what- what do you think he’s going to do to you?”

“I don’t fucking know, Ken, but I don’t want to kill him like you do.”

He feels the barb’s intended pain and really wishes Roman wouldn’t think that.

“What- how do you not understand how much I didn’t want to do this?” he asks incredulously. He shakes his head and tries to connect in a more gentle, intense way, looking right into Roman’s eyes. “I didn’t. But it’s happening. And I am taking over. Dad’s time is ending. You can still hop on the lifeboat. Heading to dry land, bro.”

“Well, maybe stop this attempt at poetry and listen to me. This can help you. Look, I planned the vote with you, I actually- puke- agree with certain parts of your vision-“

“Because my vision is fucking good-“ Kendall interjects.

“-And buying stations to indoctrinate some local tinfoil hat fucks is not the- the- thing. But I am not risking my life for a ‘lifeboat’ made of, like, popsicle sticks and your childhood dreams. So, take it or leave it. I might save you by telling you valuable shit.”

“Or you might try to sink me.”

“If you annoy me. Which is highly likely, I’m just being honest.”

Kendall rubs his forehead.

“Negotiating against yourself. Good luck out there. Well, I’m obviously not going to tell you anything. You’re asking to be a double agent. I don’t even- who does that? Honestly, I can get information from other sources.” Kendall remembers his talk with Greg last night, his bumbling blackmail that Kendall found both amusing and concerning. But he knows Greg’s loyalty will go to the highest bidder. If he buys it, it’s his. With Roman it’s more complicated.

Roman tries a new, genuine appeal.

“This…” Roman gestures between them, “this has been nice. Like, is there a way where it doesn’t have to be… you know?”

Kendall feels torn. It has been nice. He’d missed Roman when he’d been in LA, and they hardly see each other even when they’re both in New York.

“You know I wanted you on board,” Kendall says with disappointment. He remembers that it’s not only his choice. “I think you’re being wishy washy, but I’m pretty sure Stewy and Sandy will have stronger language than that to describe it.”

Roman raises his eyebrows and looks down and away. It makes Kendall feel achy and want to change his mind.

“Okay. Open offer.” Roman gives him an unreadable look before turning and walking toward the dining room for breakfast.

The slight bump of the wood when Kendall closes the door upon re-entering the bedroom makes Rava stir.

“Mmm. What are you doing? Come back.” She’s never liked that he gets up before her and he’s spent most weekend mornings of his adult life as a pillow for an extra hour or two. It’s always been his time to secretly send Saturday and Sunday work emails, but he doesn’t think he can even pretend to want to lie down now. He’s vibrating with energy, conflict, worries, excitement. He goes to sit on the bed and brushes her hair off her face. She softly holds his hand with both of hers and he smiles at how sweet she is when she’s still half-asleep.

“You want to get breakfast?” he asks quietly. “Come with me. Not here, we’ll go somewhere.”

“Mmhmm.” She opens her eyes and squints at him. “Okay. Are the kids up?”

“I don’t know, I just got up myself.”

“Okay.” She sits up with the sheet loose around her and he suddenly needs to be close and scoops her toward him for a comforting hug. It’s going to be okay. She’s still sleepy and melts into him easily for a minute as he breathes in her scent. She rolls out of bed and he admires her bare skin as she walks around looking for the robe she’d brought. “Where is that robe..?” she asks.

“I’m not telling you,” he replies, eyes not leaving her body.

“Okay. Great, thank you,” she smiles sarcastically and nods along before spotting the robe and wrapping it around herself.

After throwing on a pair of dark jeans and a beige sweater and looking effortlessly chic, Rava goes into the kids’ room and Kendall gets ready to sneak past the sure-to-be-awkward breakfast to find something in town before flying home.

……

The kids sleep in a back bedroom of the jet while Rava dozes with her head on Kendall’s shoulder. Jet lag, post-wedding exhaustion, and hangovers are winning this day for everyone else. Kendall puts his arm around her and silently practices his talking points for the news appearances he and Stewy will be flooded with once they’re back in the city. Stewy smirks at his phone as he texts and sips coffee with his soft leather loafers up on a footstool and blankets draped over him on his reclined seat. Roman had declared that he was going with Tabitha on Logan’s jet because Dad said so, so it’s just the three of them. Stewy looks up and nods at Kendall’s notecards.

“You ready?” Stewy whispers to Kendall. “PGN first.” Kendall nods seriously. “So what’s up with your brother?” Stewy inquires, keeping his voice down. “He pass out in a bathroom with his dick in his hand?”

“Uh, he went to talk to Dad. He came to me this morning and offered to inform on him, but obviously he’s just doing Dad’s bidding now,” Kendall reports a little emotionlessly.

Stewy’s eyes widen and he tilts his head with a slight look of disbelief.

“He got stuck, huh? Cool, Sandy’s gonna love that. It’ll look great for me that I vouched for him. Fucker.”

“Yeah. I know. I told him we’re not gonna talk to him.”

Stewy considers and crosses his legs, taking a bite of the croissant on the table next to him.

“You know what? Tell him we’ll take his information.”

Kendall perks up a bit.

“…yeah?”

Kendall picks up his phone, glad that someone else also thinks it’s a good plan to stay in touch.

“Yeah. But Ken,” Stewy says in his relaxed warning tone. “Don’t tell him anything."

“I won’t.”

After a nap and more quiet prep on the long flight back to New York, Kendall and Stewy meet back up at the entrance to PGN. The weather is getting quite chilly now but they don’t even notice as they go inside. They walk together onto the news floor when the elevator doors open, both in dark suits and feeling exactly as psyched as they’d always imagined they would be.

“Fucking… PGN. Hope they let me out alive,” Kendall chuckles. It’s not even close to his first time on TV, but it’s his first time doing it purely for his own business interests, and it’s certainly his first time on the rival network. He feels a bit untethered. Unleashed.

“Don’t worry. It’s the perfect first stop. We’ll be taken care of,” Stewy says knowingly as they make it into the labyrinth of a studio.

They approach the cameras via a long, dark hallway. The doorway shines blindingly bright light down the center. He fidgets with his notecards as they forge ahead in the weird spotlight.

The light is overwhelming all around them once they get inside. The makeup artists swarm and suddenly powder puffs and combs and chatter surround them both as they sit down in director’s chairs. A stylish and nervous-looking thirty-something PGN producer scurries over and tucks her light brown hair behind her ear as she smiles at Stewy. His eyes are instantly glued to hers. He gives her a serene smile back and Kendall can see her blush a bit.

“Stewy, I’m so glad you’re here,” she says sweetly. “I mean, we all are.” She extends her hand to Kendall. “You’re Kendall! Hi, I’m Lena,” she introduces herself, only briefly taking her eyes off Stewy’s face.

“Hey, yeah. Nice to meet you.”

“You too.”

“Ken, Lena’s here to make you seem like you know almost as much as me,” Stewy says smoothly. Lena giggles and Stewy twinkles at her. “She’s brilliant. Taught me everything I know about looking incredible on TV.”

Lena looks pleased and flustered for a second as she reaches back to check the claw clip in her hair.

“Oh, well, you’re a natural.” She gives him a pretty smile and gazes at him again for a second too long before forcing her attention back to the task at hand. “Um, so, I have some talking points for you both from your PR team.” She pulls some printed sheets from her tote bag and hands them to Kendall and Stewy. “Normally we wouldn’t do this, but, you know.” She drops her eyes after such a clear flirty moment. “I’ll let you go over them, and I’ll be right over here if you have any questions. About filming,” she clarifies. “I can’t answer questions about your PR. Obviously,” she laughs a little breathlessly. She turns to walk away and almost trips over a cable before going to stand with the other members of her team on the other side of the room and gazing over not-so-subtly.

Stewy watches her go as his eyes wander from the floor to her hair. Kendall looks over at him.

“Okay. Had to hit PGN first,” he smirks.

“You and your precious optics know this is where we have to start.” Stewy smiles a little. “But, yeah, it helps to have a supportive environment.”

“Uh-huh.” Kendall smiles and feels a pang of missing Rava.

“Anka was too freaked out by everything, you know? Who throws sex parties with severe anxiety issues? Lena’s… you know.”

“Yeah. Very chill,” Kendall deadpans. “She might have a heart attack if she overhears this conversation.”

“She’s like that every time she talks to me. It’s funny. She takes five minutes to type a sentence in a text,” Stewy shrugs. Kendall decides not to point out that Stewy could only know that if he watches the three dots for five minutes.

“Basket cases are your thing,” Kendall chuckles.

“That’s true, Ken, I do like spending time with disastrous people,” Stewy smiles pointedly. “It emphasizes to others how together I am.”

Kendall nods, playing along. It is a little nerve-wracking to think about the high expectations that everyone watching will have of him. Right now, maybe twenty people know what’s going on. In five minutes, it’ll be millions.

“Right. Hang on a second.” Kendall gets up and pulls his phone out of his pocket. He dials Rava and is glad to hear her voice.

“Hey! How’s the interview prep?” she asks.

“Hey. Good,” he confirms. “We’re about to go on. You watching?”

“Of course,” she replies. She’s a little apprehensive about the whole thing. Logan isn’t nice when he’s threatened.

“Good. Good. Hey, tonight can we just do takeout and hideout?”

“Yes. That sounds so good.” She pauses and he's quiet. “You okay? Worried about this?” She’s always advised him to think about the incoming peacefulness after the big event to calm jitters.

“Uh, kind of,” he admits. “I dunno. It’s great but it’s also, like… this makes it real.”

“There you go,” Rava smiles. “It is real.”

“Yeah. Fuck.”

A man wearing a headset pops his head into the side room.

“Two minutes!” he says.

“Thank you,” Kendall answers. “Okay, time to go. Time to make it fuckin’ happen.”

“Good luck!”

Kendall puts his phone in his pocket, walks back into the space and sits down next to Stewy at the desk set. The lights go down around the set and they look at each other in a moment of pure exhilaration. Memories flash through their minds of being seventeen and sneaking liquor in the Roys’ sprawling gardens while discussing their plans to take over the world.

A voice comes from the dark and everyone else goes quiet. Kendall closes his eyes for a second.

“Okay, we’re live in three, two….”

The on-air light lights up.

It’s a new world.

“I’m here with Kendall Roy, former Waystar Royco executive and son of current CEO Logan Roy, and Stewy Hosseini, partner at Maesbury Capital,” the reporter begins. “Kendall, we’ll start with you. You must feel strongly about this to go up against your father this way. What made you do it?”

Kendall focuses every bit of his energy on his response, breathes in, and lets the words he’s been repeating in his mind free.

“My father is a brilliant businessman. A true legend. And what he’s built here is unlike any other corporation in the world. His legacy can never be tarnished. In fact, one of the reasons Stewy and I decided to do this is to preserve it. The old ways of doing things are not viable in today’s world, and I can’t allow the firm to stay still when there’s a race all around it. I have always been of the mind that we need to move forward in order to shepherd Waystar Royco into the new era. I believe our focus on moving more deeply into the tech sector is critical to the success of the company moving forward and I am confident that I am the right person to lead us into the future as CEO.”

“Thank you. It must be an exciting moment for you. But how are things between you and your father?” she asks, clearly even more interested in this answer.

Kendall smiles, but it flickers. He knows this is the part everyone is listening to most closely.

“Uh, you know.” He keeps smiling uneasily into it. “They’re- we’re good. This is just the way things are, business-wise.”

“Great. And Stewy-“

Kendall practically blacks out in his mind while Stewy gets into the financial details. They’re really doing it.

About an hour and a half later, Kendall walks into the apartment and breathes it in for a moment. He’s back and it’s all under way. He walks down the hall toward the family room and Rava, who beckons him over to the couch.

He opens his arms and smiles for a minute on the other side of the room.

“How fucking amazing is this?” he says.

“It actually is,” she says honestly. She can’t believe he’s finally taken a bold step against Logan.

They’re both feeling exhausted after a weekend full of exertion, and he flops down on the couch next to her and nuzzles into her neck for a minute. She smells like fresh conditioner and light perfume.

“What a day you’ve had,” she smiles as he lets himself fall into her lap and she runs her fingers through his hair.

“Yeah. Can’t believe it.” He means it. Things have begun to feel vividly real. His phone buzzes and he pulls it from his pocket and takes a look.

“Text from Roman,” he says. “They’re all at the Hamptons house.” He pauses and feels a bit left out even though he knows it would make no sense for him to be there right now. Before he can say anything else, his phone vibrates again and he almost laughs out loud at the next message.

“Shiv?! Rav, Dad’s having individual meetings and he just called in Shiv. For what? Political advice? Is Roman making this shit up? She said she’s with Gil. She changed her mind already? Well, she’s already fucked herself if she’s going back and forth, politics to business. Dad won’t go for that, right?”

He sits up and stares at his phone.

“Well, you don’t know what he’s thinking. Trying to read his mind isn’t going to work here,” Rava says. “Don’t drive yourself crazy. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

He sighs quietly to himself and realizes that Dad actually is picking a new him this time. It’s just what he’d previously feared with Roman, only now it’s worse. It's Shiv, who is so inexperienced that she might believe Dad would pick someone with no experience. It doesn’t matter, he reminds himself, because he’s going to claim his rightful place. There is no new him.   

But he pictures Shiv in Dad’s Summer Palace office all the same.

He stews over the image for a few minutes. He feels jealous and protective of his little sister at once and struggles to remember to focus his energy on his own plans. A few minutes after Rava goes to have a snack, his phone rings. His skin prickles and his heart races when he sees Dad on his screen. He looks around a bit wildly at first, wondering where Rava is and realizing there’s not enough time. Instinct takes over and he answers it.

“Dad?” he manages.

“Kendall.” Logan’s voice is calm and almost eerily pleasant. “How is it out there in the cold?”

“It’s-“ he tries to speak. “You-you know, Dad, I didn’t want to do what I did- I-“

“I’ve been getting a lot of advice,” Logan starts smoothly, slowly. “Laird… Shiv… anyone with the stones to try to stand up to me tells me I should sell.”

The confusion is clouding Kendall’s previously sharpened mind.

“Uh-huh?”

“I was wondering- what do you think?”

Kendall thinks he can hear electricity crackle.

“Uh- what- what do you mean-“

“Well, you’ve been inside for a while. What do you think I should do?” The mind games are overwhelming.

“W- what is this, a joke? I don’t- Dad, we shouldn’t even be talking-“

“Enough. It was a good move. Now it’s time to come back in.” Kendall can barely believe what he’s hearing.

“What- so you can keep things exactly the same and never do what you promised?” He shakes his head. “No.”

“Oh, cut your self-righteous shit,” Logan thunders. Kendall is intimidated into silence. “We’re gonna fight this. And I want you by my side. The deal is, if you can stop Sandy and Stewy, then I will make you the next chief executive of the firm, like we planned. You’re the one, son.”

Shock reverberates through Kendall’s body. He struggles to collect his thoughts, to breathe properly. When was his last breath? Has it been too long? He suddenly inhales and tries to summon his own words to Roman earlier this morning.

“It- it wasn’t true when you said it before. For eighteen months. For fucking- thirty-two years, you said it, and you took it back.”

“You made a mistake, Ken. With Vaulter. This is my company. I have the right.” Kendall thinks he should argue, then decides against it. But he can’t help himself.

“Vaulter was a solid buy. But sure. You have the right. So why should I believe this?” Part of him is yearning against his will for a definite answer he knows Logan would never give.

“Because now, we’ve got eyes on us. The news fucks, the shareholders. Thanks to you,” Logan grumbles. “Thing is, you know both sides, you have the years." Well, no fucking kidding, Kendall thinks. “This is rare. But you have leverage. Let’s get back to work,” Logan says. Kendall can practically feel the steamrolling and tries to keep himself upright.

He realizes his dad may not trust Roman. Roman knows what was going on with Kendall’s side too, but Logan wants to hear it from Kendall. His head is swirling with thoughts. Is he on speaker? Is everyone listening and waiting to laugh if he says yes? He knows it’s stronger to end the call right now. But… the office. The chair. The respect, the head of the boardroom. The authority, the job, the usefulness. The fulfillment. He nervously grabs the edge of the couch cushion he’s sitting on.

He’s dying to say yes. But even in the face of all the temptation, he knows it could only end in humiliation if he went back. His dad would think of all kinds of ways to make him pay, all kinds of tests, a round of boar on the floor where he’s the only one begging for scraps. Rava’s disappointment, Stewy’s disdain... he can’t do it.

“Dad- I- I really wish I could trust you. I mean, you know I… I just- I can’t.”

Logan’s anger is almost as scary on the phone as it is in person.

“But you can trust Sandy, enemy of this family your whole life? And Stewy, who wouldn’t even go against me in your little board vote? But not me. Not the one who’s given you everything you’ve ever had. Is that right?”

Kendall’s heart is pounding. It’s terrifying, but he’s steeling himself.

“Yes, Dad. I wanted to believe you. But after everything the last couple of months, I can’t.” He takes a deep breath. “This is on my terms now.”

Logan’s voice turns violent. “I’ll grind you into dust. You’ll be nothing. You’ll finally realize it.”

Kendall tries to keep the words out, but they crash around him in waves for a terrible moment. He remembers every late night spent working, the entire year in Shanghai spent doing everything he could to make long-distance work with Rava, the times defending his kids from Logan’s derision, all to be treated like this. He feels the habitual need to remind himself of the good moments too, but hearing what his dad just said makes him stop himself. The fury, the threats, the derogatory comments about his recovery, his family, his strategies. His whole being. He leaves his body for a moment to say it.

“You’re a fuckin’ beast.”

Kendall hangs up and drops his phone onto the couch cushion. His hands are shaking and he knows his voice probably was, too. He nervously walks into the kitchen to find Rava and she tilts her head in a question when she sees him.

“Dad called,” he breathes. “He’s going to fight. But so are we.”

……

That night, they lie in bed in the dark. Blackout curtains have made it velvety dark in their room. They don’t always use the blackouts, but Kendall pressed the button to close them tonight. Rava looks expectantly at the spot she can feel him lying, wondering why he's so far. She reaches her arm out and feels for his head, lightly patting its crown.

“Hey,” she says softly. “What’s going on in here?”

She can hear him open his mouth and exhale.

“Do you think- this is dumb, but, do you think he even likes me? Like, as a person?” He pauses and hesitantly adds, “I don’t think he does.”

“Oh… Ken, of course he does.” She doesn’t know if Logan is capable of liking anyone, but he’s always been pretty obsessed with his son.

“No, I mean, well, thank you for- for saying that but like, really? If someone asked him what my good qualities were, what would he even say?”

“You have so many. You’re kind, you’re creative, you get inspired all the time-“

“But-” he shakes his head in a bit of embarrassment at this incredibly vulnerable moment. He’s glad it’s dark. “But he doesn’t like any of those things.”

“He never leaves you alone,” she says. “Just today, even when, from his perspective, you’ve been trying to destroy him for the last couple of months.”

“That’s not-“

“I know. But from his perspective,” she continues. “He tries to keep you leashed to him all the time. He always has.”

“But that’s like… sick,” Kendall replies uncertainly. “Yeah? That’s weird. People have told me that’s weird.”

They’ve talked about this before, but it’s been a few years. She remembers this kind of talk with less fondness than many of their other conversations.

“Yes. It’s weird. I mean, he isn’t normal or healthy. Obviously,” she lets out a mirthless chuckle. “But as much as he is capable of liking someone, I think he likes you.” Kendall is quiet, which is what he does when he sort of disagrees but doesn’t know how to argue. “He must like that you tend see the future in business.”

“I’m not sure that’s true.” Kendall wrings his hands at the thought of Vaulter being in his father’s power.

“It is! When have you ever been wrong about what direction to go in?” He’s quiet again, this time because there’s no counterargument. “You can’t argue that he likes that you have a sense of things!”

He can’t cheer for himself.

“I have a feeling he likes that quality more in other people than he likes it in me.” He lies there thinking of the people who don’t like him. The Canadians, the Vaulter staff, the art people… Roman? Shiv? He doesn’t say anything else but Rava can feel it.

The depth of his insecurity shouldn’t surprise her anymore, but it breaks her heart a little when it becomes so clear. She moves closer to him and lays her hand on his chest. She wants to tell him the validation from his father doesn’t matter, but she thinks when she’s said something for nearly two decades and it hasn’t sunk in, it might be time to give him what he wants instead of what he needs. Tonight, she can tell him a good truth instead of a hard one.

“You know he sees you as competition. Who else does he ever go toe-to-toe with? Hmm? And there is nothing your dad likes more than a completely insane business competition.”

She feels the vibration of a smile from him.

“Well, I can’t argue with that.”

“Yeah!” She says more cheerfully, grateful that her point landed. “You give him what he really wants. I actually think you might be the one person who doesn’t bore him.”

He considers that.

“I just… feel… this is going to ensure that he’ll never really trust me again. Like, I used to be his go-to. For everything.” Remembering the good moments he'd held off before makes him want to call Logan and tell him he wants to come back.

“I know," Rava says. "Don't forget what he did though-“ she uses a softer tone- “the takeover wasn’t the thing that changed his mind. He made the decision when he took back the announcement. And he did fire you. All i'm saying is you're not losing a close relationship right now. At the very least, you know he respects this."

He says nothing while he thinks over all of her ideas. He hears how negative he’s being and brings up something positive so she won’t think he’s a wet blanket.

“I guess… it’s true, he’s never accused me of boring him.”

“See? There you go. Come here.” She reaches for him and he rolls into her arms. She's glad it’s over and that she’s partially scrubbed the negative thoughts from his head for the night. His forehead rests on her shoulder as he wonders whether he should try to say what the even deeper problem is.

“It’s kind of fucking… hollow even if we win, though. If he never gives it to me, you know… if he never thought I could do it.”

His words float in the darkness for a moment.

“It would still be achieving what you’ve always wanted.”

“Well. You know, there were kind of two parts to what I wanted.”

“Yeah,” she says a little sadly.

“I- I know you think it shouldn’t matter,” he says hesitantly.

“I just wish it didn’t matter,” Rava says. They go quiet as she drapes her arm over him.

He’s had parts of this conversation with her and others over the years, with varying degrees of empathy reflected back. But this part has always been where no one could come with him, where no one hears him, no one understands.

…….

A few days later, Roman saunters up behind Kendall and Rava as they walk through the amusement park keeping an eye on Sophie and her friends at her birthday party.

“I’m here as a spy, in case you were wondering,” Roman announces. “Just here to check out whether Dad has anything to worry about. Obviously he doesn’t with this fucker in charge!” he adds loudly.

Rava shoots him a look.

“Dude,” Kendall sighs. The kids are here.

“Can we talk about what Sandy’s thinking the next steps are?” Roman asks impatiently.

“I’m here to enjoy my daughter’s birthday party. We’ll talk later.” Kendall glances at Rava for her approval. She’s glad to hear it even though she knows his head is full of strategy.

Sophie runs over and flings her arms around Kendall’s waist. He squeezes her and meets her eyes as she looks up at him.

“Can we make the wagon go faster?” she asks him. Kendall looks at the ride attendant as he adjusts his scarf. It’s getting colder outside.

“Is that possible?” he inquires. Rava leans in to talk to the attendant.

“No, no.” She looks at Sophie. “Honey, let’s stay safe, okay? We’re going to keep all the rides at their normal speeds.”

Sophie pouts for a moment and runs back to her friends. Rava follows to keep an eye on things and Roman smirks at Kendall.

“So, it must be fun to have no authority at home, no authority at work, you’re killin’ it!”

“You don’t understand responsibility,” Kendall replies dully.

“Nope, never been for me. I do understand having a personality though, which you have clearly lost!” He points at his brother for emphasis and is disappointed by his lack of reaction. “Hey, do you think Sophie thinks it’s weird that her grandpa isn’t at her birthday party?”

“Why, because he’s been so involved in his grandchildren’s lives before this?” Kendall almost smiles.

Roman snickers a little regretfully and they share a moment of dry humor.

“You know Shiv and Tom are here, keeping their distance.” Roman jerks his head behind him and to the left. Kendall looks alarmed.

“Uh, what? No. Is that- I mean, is she cool right now? What’s the deal with her and Dad?”

“I don’t fucking know, Tom’s here to be a freak and look at what he doesn’t have to deal with anymore because Firecrotch got him promoted to run the most important branch of the company,” Roman scoffs. Kendall glances back and calms down. They can’t do anything here.

“Well- I mean, it’s not really surprising that Tom’s at ATN now. Like… that figures.”

Roman’s eyes dance.

“Because he understands our ‘agricultural viewers?’” he says mockingly.

“Because he might actually believe some of that shit.”

“I believe that shit,” Roman says sardonically.

“You shouldn’t tell people that,” Kendall shoots back.

They are both glad for Connor’s interruption.

“Hey, hey! It's the traitor son," he says sarcastically. Roman snickers and Kendall grimaces. "Kenny, I got Sophie a few books I think she’d like to read. Counteract some of that propaganda they’re teaching her at Chapin.”

“Uh-huh. Okay, thanks Con,” Kendall says, letting it go. Roman jumps in.

“Do you think, maybe, you’re seen as susceptible to conspiracies because people see a weirdo living in the desert-“

“Oh, Romey, I love when you express your love for me,” Connor ruffles Roman’s hair and Roman makes a face as Connor walks away. Kendall stares over at Shiv and Tom, now joined by Greg.

“So… Greg talked to me at the wedding,” he starts slowly to gauge Roman’s reaction. He takes a deep breath. “I think he’s got something on Waystar.”

“What? For real? Like what?”

“I dunno- something with cruises. Maybe wolf pack stuff?”

A pained look crosses Roman’s face and he smooths his button-down under his coat.

“He doesn’t know shit.”

“I- I think he does, actually. He might have paperwork. I’m just saying, keep an eye on him, okay?” Kendall suggests.

“Blech. I don’t want to look at him. But fine.” Roman and Kendall both pause to watch Greg from afar.

“Uh, hey, can we be real for a second? Like, just sibs for a sec?” Kendall starts.

“That’s gonna be a no, but you’re going to say whatever overthought nonsense you have anyway.”

“Would you work at Waystar if not for Dad?” Kendall asks.

“Actually, I’d be the most highly-paid gigolo in the country and would laugh at your paltry c-suite millions. Or, like, your mailroom paychecks, which is much more accurately where you’d be without Dad.”

Kendall sighs.

“So, no,” Kendall prompts.

“No. What? I don’t know. Maybe. Who gives a shit? Who’s asking?”

“Me, dude. Relax. It’s not a trick.”

“So, what, you would work here without Dad?” Roman asks defensively.

“Honestly, yeah,” Kendall answers. “I think I’m good at it.”

“I think that’s up for debate.“

“Well, it’s not.” Kendall wishes he could ask Roman if Logan has ever mentioned his abilities, but he knows it would result in mockery instead of actual information. He drops the subject, but he knows Roman gets what it’s like to want Dad’s love and respect- Roman is even willing to spend his time doing a job he doesn’t care about in order to try to gain it- and that knowledge lightens the weight on his shoulders a bit.

…….

Kendall’s phone beeps and interrupts his call with Stewy. He checks and it’s Roman’s name.

“The fucking- informant is calling again,” he almost chuckles.

“Be careful, Ken,” Stewy warns before ending the call.

Kendall switches to the new call and hears that Roman’s voice is hushed and tense.

“Ken, Dad is deciding what to do about Vaulter right now.” He nervously paces around the hallway by the waiting area outside Logan’s office.

“What- what do you mean, like he might kill it?”

“He’s torturing me with questions about you and Sandy and Stewy.”

“Okay. Well, I’m sorry to hear that, but no one made you go back to him… what- what about Vaulter?”

“He doesn’t fucking like it but he could save it?” He brushes his hand along the back of the leather couch and then waves his arm around with his next sentence. “I don’t fucking know, you’re the one who threw all our pretty, pretty money at something for Dad’s approval-“

“Vaulter was a solid business decision. And you don’t care about Dad’s approval? Secretly calling me. Taking his shit. Okay.” He decides saving Vaulter is more important than making his point and refocuses. “Well, look, I think Dad is wrong, and Vaulter deserves a chance. I mean, yeah, Lawrence probably inflated their numbers, so, hire some accounting consultants, send them over, show your face. Be the hero.” He hates the idea of Roman looking like the savior for his company, but he hates the idea of losing it more.

“Or I could lay off two hundred people and triumphantly march back to my ivory tower. Maybe I could hire them to build me a new ivory tower. What’s minimum wage now, like 600K?”

“Or you should listen to me because I know the full situation and actually want to build something there.”

“Riiiight, you’re so selfless and altruistic. So inspiring,” Roman says. “Seriously, 600K, can you imagine trying to live on that?” Kendall ignores him.

“Dude. This is for you, too. When you’re COO, you’ll be glad you have their content and their interface, their readers. Trust me on this.” Roman asked what to do, but he doesn’t always like getting what he wants. “So- does he want you to go in? See Lawrence?”

“Of course he does. Tomorrow at 11:00.”

“Are you-? Don’t make me look like an asshole, man. You can save this.” Kendall squirms at the thought of Roman in his territory, making disgusting jokes and talking shit about him.

“Don’t worry about me meeting with him, I’m much more charming and likable than you,” Roman says drily. Kendall rolls his eyes and wonders why Lawrence doesn’t like him.  “Okay, back to being the only son Daddy loves!”

Roman hangs up and Kendall drums his fingers on the arm of the chair and gets up to find Rava.

“Hey,” he calls into the great room. “I think Dad might be doing something insane. He wants to shut down Vaulter, our only chance into the twenty-first century… eighteen years late, but, you know, it’s Dad.”

“Can you save it?” she asks as he enters the room and sits down.

“Uh, well. I don’t know. He’s got Roman on it tomorrow. He wouldn’t tell me if he’s going to destroy it. I worked on that acquisition for months!” He throws his hand up exasperatedly.

“Well, don’t just let him take it down then. Go with him and stop him!”

“Dad would never allow that, so-“

“You know, you don’t have to worry about what your dad would allow anymore.” He thinks for a second. “It’s going to be your company, isn’t it? Are you going to let the current CEO shutter a valuable asset that you’ll need when you take over? Would you let that happen with any other acquisition?”

He gives her a little smile.

“I missed this,” he says. “You’re always right.”

He goes to sit next to her and leans in to kiss her. Her hand brushes the back of his head and he puts his forehead on hers for a second, reconnecting after the energy given to everything else.

“How’s your day going?” he asks. “Has work improved much?”

She slumps into the couch and leans against him.

“Not really,” she answers drearily. “It’s all so shrouded in darkness. I can’t believe there are companies that operate like this.” She shakes her head. “I don’t know how you work in this world.”

He tries not to take the comment personally.

“Well… Waystar doesn’t do shit like steal wages and kidnapping or whatever.”

She raises her eyebrows and his voice gets a defensive tone.

“Not now. Not while I’ve worked there, Rav, you know that.”

“Yeah. I’m-“ she sighs. “Sorry- I don’t know. I feel bad failing at this. If this guy never comes home, it’s because I couldn’t find him. If there’s no justice for all these workers… I guess I just wish I were a better lawyer.”

Kendall never hears her express doubt in herself. It takes him a second to process and respond.

“Hey, that’s not fair to you. You’re going to figure this out. I’ll try whatever I can to help. And-“ he hesitates. “Would it be so bad to ask Robert?”

“Oh, so you don’t have to call your dad when you have a business problem, but I have to call my step-dad?” she gently mocks.

“Okay. I mean, sure, obviously I get it, but he probably knows someone.”

“From his Wall Street acquisition world? They wouldn’t know about this.”

“I dunno, maybe he knows someone who does.”

She shrugs.

“I’ll think about it.”

……

Lawrence looks worriedly at Kendall.

“It’s all for real, man,” Lawrence asserts. “You made a good decision buying us, I mean, from your perspective. I’ll do what it takes to keep it going.” He pauses. “What do you honestly think is going to happen here?”

“I’m of the opinion Dad can be persuaded he’s making a mistake,” Kendall says intensely. Roman looks at him warily. He’s not sure what the right answer is and Kendall can tell. “But you gotta work with me. Okay? Trust me.”

Lawrence nods like he knows it’s not up to him and Kendall walks up toward the front of balcony area of the Vaulter floor, overlooking all the people below, and begins his speech. Roman stands behind Kendall and zones out his words while he observes the expressions on all the workers’ faces. They’re not loving it but they also have no choice.

“Vaulter is the future of this company,” Kendall’s saying. Roman glances at Lawrence and he catches him. Roman gives an awkward nod and lets out a silent sigh. Kendall’s eyes flit to Roman for some support in the cold room. Roman makes a subtle face at him and Kendall gets back on track.

“If I fuck this up, I’m done forever,” he announces to the crowd. Roman fights the urge to cheer and get a laugh. He wonders how Kendall can possibly be so sincere saying such a dramatic sentence. Vaulter’s not the only game in town, Roman thinks. Another one would come along. Kendall’s winding it down now.

“Tough times. All pull together. Trust. Trust me. Any questions?” Roman can practically hear the crickets. Kendall steps down from the chair, a little shaken at the negative reception. Low chatter resumes in the room and Roman gives Kendall a sardonic smirk.

“Wow, they fucking love you here, you were definitely the right choice to make that speech. Then again, I’m still cool and they all hate you more than ever, so-“

“I’m saving their fucking jobs,” Kendall mutters. Roman giggles and walks away. Even if it’s the right thing, he doesn’t want to make it easy. “You understand that’s what this is, right?” Kendall calls after his brother. “I’m serious.” He catches up to Roman. “You want to strategize tonight? We have a lot of work to do. Obviously you’ll have to send me some shit so I can do it from home since I can’t be here normally. But-“

“I’m actually having a dinner party tonight that you’re not invited to, so-“

“What?”

Roman looks annoyingly satisfied at Kendall’s confusion.

“Yeah, Tabs and I are having Shiv and Tom to dinner.” Kendall feels a flash of envy and disappointment not to be included with Rava in a couples’ dinner party for his siblings.

“Uh, okay.” He tries to justify. “Well, you- you can’t be seen with me anyway, so.”

“You know Dad’s going to know you came here today and that we were seen together.” The justification dissolves and Kendall shrugs it off and tries to put a teflon wall around himself, allowing his eyes to get a little darker.

“Tell him I went rogue.”

……

Kendall squishes into his favorite armchair in the family room, glancing at the fireplace while he idly listens to Stewy complain over the phone.

“When were you going to consult with me on making a speech to all of Vaulter, Ken?” he asks, clearly annoyed. “How does that look? How am I supposed to explain this?”

“It’s going to look like I’m taking over this company and care what happens to it. It makes sense.”

“You standing with Roman the ‘loyal son’ and speaking from a joint perspective. That makes sense?”

“Yes. It does. I can’t trust Roman to take care of things. Dad leans toward killing it. If Roman feels the heat, he’ll fold. He’d fire them all tomorrow if he thought it would get him a pat on the head.”

Stewy sighs.

“This isn’t your favorite kind of, like, nice, pleasant acquisition where you have lunch and discuss your joint business dreams.” Stewy tries to sound authoritative but he smiles a little at the vast difference in how he and Kendall do business. “Not to sound like your dad,” he shudders, “but this is war. It cannot look like you might still be talking to him or your brother. No more of this.”

“You know we need Vaulter, Stew.”

“Figure it out without being buddy-buddy with the fucking enemy. I don’t want to be destroyed on CNBC tomorrow and I’m sick of being questioned by Sandy. You still need him, don’t forget that.”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. Bye.”

Kendall goes back to looking over the piles of Vaulter documents in front of him and slips on his glasses. He only wears them when it’s absolutely necessary, but Rava loves when she catches a glimpse. She steps into the doorway, head tilted and subtle smile on her face as she watches him focus. He looks up and takes the glasses off.

“Hi,” he says.

“Oh, you’re so cute in those, put them back on,” she says as she walks closer.

“No.”

“Well, you never know when you're cute.” He looks down and tries not to smile. “See, right now.” She steps between his chair and the desk, leaning back against it as she surveys him, and puts the glasses back on him. “Sexy econ professor," she laughs. "Tell me about the stock market.”

He laughs and shakes his head. She tucks her hair behind her ears and leans over him.

“How’s the New York Stock Exchange?” she whispers.

He looks down her open blouse.

“Uh, pretty hot. I'm the professor? Okay. I'll teach you. Waystar is actually doing better than I-”

“Ooh, I heard those Waystar guys are rich,” she purrs in his ear. He takes off the glasses again and puts them down.

“You heard right,” he says, completely straight-faced this time as he pulls her into his lap for a sexy kiss. “All the diamonds you want if you come to office hours.”

“And if I want time?” She smiles into his lips and swats in the direction of his laptop. He reaches over and closes it.

“Probably more than you want,” he chuckles.

“Good. Well, Mom and Robert are expecting us at 7:00, so… we should go in a few minutes. So much better than a stupid dinner party with your siblings all night,” she says in a light tone as she stands up, knowing the party is bothering him enough that he insisted they go to her parents’ house this very weekend. He nods, wondering again why Roman and Shiv don’t hang out with him more. He remembers Roman essentially saying he liked being close to him a few days ago and feels guilty for letting him dangle in that conversation while he was mad. He wonders if that’s the real reason he wasn’t invited.

“Yeah. Let me just-“

“Don’t make me explain to him why we’re late, come onnnn.” She pulls him up playfully and he extricates himself before putting his hands on her upper arms and looking into her eyes.

“I will be done in ten minutes,” he promises.

“Ha! Sure you will. Just remember this trip was your idea, so if we’re late, you are dealing with any and all fallout.”

“Okay. I could be almost done by now. I’ll be out in-“

“Ten minutes,” they say in unison. Rava smiles and walks out.

……..

When the heavy wooden door of the elegant stone Greenwich home swings open, Kendall is immediately enveloped in Rava’s mom’s arms, squished in with Rava and the kids behind them and feeling the stress being squeezed away. Years of memories flood back in in the best way, of his first happy Christmas with Rava’s family at age 23, the time a year later when Rava had run into the house ahead of him squealing to her mom about her new engagement ring, the first time they brought both kids to visit and swelled with pride. This house has been a sweet escape for Kendall his whole adult life. Every time Logan had hurt his pride or his self-esteem, he had found himself again with the other side of his family. He closes his eyes for a few moments, taking in the kindness and calm of the house he had missed for the last three years.

When Cheryl finally lets go, she puts her hand on Kendall’s face.

“Look at you. You’re still thirty. Men have it so easy,” she laughs with Rava and he shakes his head. She grabs him again and pats his back. “Ohhh, I missed you.” She looks at her daughter and grandchildren. “He’s such a good hugger. I almost forgot how cute he is.” Rava and Kendall smile.

“It’s true,” Rava agrees.

“Okay,” he laughs at the way he'd forgotten they compliment him like he isn't there. “Thank you, I missed you, too. I’m so glad to be back. Seriously, you have no idea.” Cheryl pats his hand and turns her attention to Sophie and Iverson.

“My babies! You’re getting so big,” she coos.

“Grandma!” Sophie excitedly jumps up and down and Iverson smiles.

“Come eat!” Cheryl beckons to the dining room and takes the kids’ hands as she leads them to the kitchen. Kendall and Rava head in to find Rava’s stepdad setting his glass at his place. Robert seems even taller than he usually does in his own home, authority and confidence emanating from him in a similar yet less menacing way as Logan.

“Sweetheart,” he says to Rava, coming over to kiss her cheek. “Good you’re here for the weekend.” He turns to Kendall. “Ken, son!” he booms. “Get over here.” Kendall's glad to hear that he's still considered family but his heart beats a little faster as he walks over for what feels like a bit of a test. “I hear you’ve got it all together these days,” Robert says, glancing down his nose as he commends and warns at once.

“That’s right,” Kendall affirms, a little tension creeping up as he worries he hasn’t been accepted back in. “Here to stay,” he adds, trying to sound confident. Robert lingers in eye contact for exactly two seconds before moving on.

“That’s what we like to hear!” He claps him on the back and Kendall breathes a sigh of relief. “Now let’s hear every detail of this fucking bear hug. It’s daring. I like that. Cheryl, do we have something besides scotch and wine in this house?”

“Oh, it’s fine-“ Kendall starts.

“Well, of course we do,” Cheryl rolls her eyes as she glides back in, already ready with Perrier and French grapefruit soda. The kids trail her and sit down at their places. She musses Robert’s hair as she passes him and sets the bottles in the middle of the table. “Divina made the most incredible cedar plank salmon for tonight, it’ll blow your mind.”

“It smells great,” Rava says.

“And mac ’n’ cheese for my adorable grandchildren,” she continues. The kids dig in as soon as the cook places the food on the table.

“So! Let’s hear it. Taking on the titan, huh?” Robert asks.

“Uh, yeah, well- it- it obviously was not my ideal plan, but it’s pretty much necessary. My dad-“ he sighs. “It’s just- time for the new generation to take over.”

“True enough, some of us know when to retire! Someone’s got to keep the golf clubs in business. Now for the good stuff- Vaulter!” Kendall knew the M&A lawyer would want all the juicy details about the acquisition.

“My dad wants it gone- I hear,” Kendall starts. “I guess he wants to sell but, you know, if things go right, he won’t be in charge for much longer, so I’m planning to save it. It’s hard from the outside, but I won’t be outside for long.”

“You gave a speech I hear,” Robert smirks.

“That got out, huh?” Kendall asks a little nervously. “Well, I did, yeah. They need to know where we stand. Can’t have them unionizing, it’s for their own good. Dad would shut that down so fast. But we’re gonna have an amazing company culture, like, they’re going to be bragging to their friends about how incredible things are for them. They think they have it good now with a few ping-pong tables. Just wait til I have a chance to do things right. The guys on twelve in our building are pumped about all the changes I made happen. Even the breakfast food. They actually specifically told me so.”

Rava smiles to herself. She likes when the passion spills out of the buttoned-up persona he keeps up.

“Mmhmm. I do see you at the helm,” Robert looks him over and nods approvingly. Rava knows what it means for Kendall to hear that.

“Thank you." He looks genuinely touched and Rava wonders if he's heard that at all since the position was offered to him a year and a half ago.

“Rava!” Robert calls. “Let’s hear some good case news.” Kendall glances at her uneasily.

“You probably should have done me first,” she says jokingly while still accidentally managing to come off as preemptively defensive toward him. “Well,” she begins, “the case I’m still working on is- a unique challenge. Some international corporate stuff. But it’s going all right,” she fibs.

“Nothing you can’t figure out if you put real effort in,” he says. She wonders if she’s being too sensitive or if the implication that she isn’t trying was really there. “What’s wrong with it?” he asks. She gives him a look like he should know better than to ask for case details and he rolls his eyes. “I’ll sign whatever you need, just spill it,” he orders. Kendall watches her dissolve a little as she glances down at the table and gives in and he grimaces for a moment. It doesn’t occur to him that this is what she’s watched happen to him all their lives.

“Um, well, the resorts don’t keep very clear paperwork- I’m sure that’s not an accident- and they make it pretty difficult to get it. I need evidence of settlements for past wage theft whisteblowers to prove this is a pattern of behavior.” She blinks and avoids Robert’s eyes. “But they operate out of these remote island places and it’s been hard to get in touch with anyone in management to get the evidence I need…?” She hates that she probably sounds like she’s not working hard enough. “And I’ve subpoenaed but, obviously, that doesn’t work if everyone’s MIA.” She takes a long sip of her chardonnay, dreading the response.

“Well, if you can’t figure it out yourself, you should grab that Gerri Kellman for a consult,” Robert asserts. Rava’s shoulders tense up. “If Waystar’s still running, it’s because she’s kept ‘em all out of prison,” he laughs. “No offense, Ken.”

“Uh…” Kendall starts. “Well, I, you know, to a point, I agree,” he says, hoping to keep things smooth and take the unwanted attention off of Rava and the case. “There have been some problems with some bad actors within the company. I’m going to affect a lot of change in the culture when I’m CEO. The culture that my dad has allowed is actually toxic. And I’m coming to change that.” He looks at Rava. “But, Rava wouldn’t talk to Gerri while we’re in the middle of this- that would be a disaster.” He looks back at Robert and she feels queasy. “But I’m sure between the two of us, we could get a list of some fuckin’ superstars she could talk to, yeah?”

“You said a bad word!” Sophie cries, looking up from her dinner.

“Oh, sh- uh, yeah. Sorry, Soph.” Sophie goes back to eating and not paying attention.

Normally Rava would laugh at Sophie’s occasional tendency to chastise her dad about little things, but this time, she’s caught on something else. She’d almost forgotten that she’d called Gerri at all in all the chaos of the last few days and hadn’t gotten around to mentioning the conversation to Kendall. Now she thinks she’d better not.

“Mmhmm,” Robert responds. “I’ll get a list going of people you can consult with.”

“I mean, it’s going fine, but- sure.” Rava nods with a tight smile to her stepdad. “Thank you,” she adds. She doesn’t mind when Kendall offers to help because she knows how happy it makes him to feel useful and needed. But when Robert helps, she worries that it comes from doubt rather than encouragement. But either way, in this particular situation, she knows she needs it.

Later that evening, Kendall comes back into their guest bedroom from brushing his teeth and enjoys the low golden light coming from one of the Tiffany lamps on the nightstand by Rava. She watches him and thinks he looks physically lighter on his feet after the compliments and encouragement he got tonight. She feels a bit flattened herself. She slides her hands over her face and makes a mental note to say extra nice things to the kids tomorrow. Being criticized really messes people up, she thinks, considering Kendall’s and her different but related experiences. He sits down on the side of the bed and drops his button-up off his shoulders. Rava reaches up from her position lying in bed and traces her fingers from one freckle to the next on his back. She wants to be close.

“I love these,” she says. They’re peacefully quiet for a moment as she continues. “You’re getting them checked every year though, right?”

He chuckles.

“Yes. You’re so my wife.” She smiles and keeps gently rubbing her fingers over his back as he closes his eyes.

“That feels so nice.” He drops his head back and leans back into her touch.

“Don’t put anything else on,” she whispers.

He nods before turning to lie down right next to her and pull her close into a tight hug. He feels solid, warm, safe. She tucks her head into the crook of his neck and relaxes, relishing how soft his skin is there.

“Mmm, you are a good hugger,” she whispers. “I love you.”

“I love you,” he smiles. “I’m so glad we’re here.” He slides his hands up the back of her t-shirt.

“Feel better?” she asks.

“I’m about to,” he mumbles into her skin as he rolls her on top of him.

“We’ll have to be quiet,” she says mischievously.

He gives her a cocky smile.

“Yeah? Good luck with that.”

Chapter 13 💗

[turtleneck-wambsgans]

greg is almost definitely oblivious to how tom sees their relationship but we absolutely cannot blame the boy. tom is the absolute queen of mixed signals. every tomgreg interaction has at least one moment where it flips 180 and it’s always because tom malfunctions.

literally like their first real interaction was “would you kiss me ? … i’m JOKING”

the scene in the hospital where tom makes fun of greg for thinking they were talking about him, and then telling greg that he’d help him get a job

tom asking greg to Commit A Crime on thanksgiving but then gently guiding greg out of the door with a hand on his back

on the yacht, teasing greg for having a preference with the rosé after having spent two whole seasons teaching greg about how to be rich. same as the “mineral water critic” thing

the diner scene (my love), with tom being crude about the omelette and then accepting greg’s “bauble” as if greg hadn’t just asked him to do something insane

the nero & sporus scene, where tom says he’d marry greg and then proceeds to get upset when greg doesn’t physically fight him

the entire “is it real?” scene bc he trashed greg’s whole office and then softly kisses him on the forehead

at kendall’s party, joking with greg, being all happy that they’re free and then blaming greg for his inability to get happy (once greg starts talking about c*****y, no less)

the deal with the devil, where tom gives greg approximately no details, very aggressively puts him in his place, and then acts like greg’s just confessed his love for him when he agrees

[sigurdjarlson]

What do you think Greg's thoughts are about Shiv? Any predictions on the kind of interactions they'll have in the upcoming season(s)?

Honestly I desperately wish we did have more interactions between these two. Like Jesse let Greg have actual relationships with his cousins please (whether negative (most likely) or positive) We got a little with Kendall briefly at least and he clearly doesn’t like Roman much especially after the whole “Greg sprinkles” incident

But Shiv? We’ve seen them interact maybe a couple of times?

Shiv was the one who remembered his name or at least was willing to correct Logan on it in the pilot so she clearly at least remembers him.

I think fics where she kinda bosses him around and played with him when they were kids because they’re close in age (and Greg lets himself be bossed around and is just happy someone pays attention to him) are really cute and heartbreaking even in their way.

But Greg’s option on Shiv…I think he finds her the most intimidating out of the four siblings. He’s probably rather (rightfully so) scared of her.

He probably also sees her as the most..competent of the three because in a lot of ways she is. Connor isn’t there most of the time, Kendall is a mess and Roman is Roman (and Greg dislikes Roman the most clearly lol)

But I also think Greg, as perceptive as he is, does notice the way she treats Tom even beyond her affair with Nate thing. Greg is quite perceptive when it comes to Tom’s moods so I’m sure he can make the connection.

I don’t think he’s very likely to willingly bring it to Tom after the whole “pushed in the snow” incident and just in general with how volatile and hostile Tom can be especially about emotional matters

He probably doesn’t like it but it’s not his place to comment on it. He was pulling an interesting face when Shiv offered him up on the jail platter on the cruise ship. Kind of horrified as well as shocked because well…who wouldn’t be

And he clearly felt he needed to tell Tom about her affair which was a surprisingly unselfish act from Greg. It didn’t end well for him though so I think he’s kept his head down on Shiv matters after that.

(I do wonder how his experience with his dad ruining their family by cheating on Marianne affected his decisions here)

He doesn’t seem overtly hostile towards her like he is with Roman though. (And even if he did harbor a strong dislike for her I don’t think he’d show it)

I hope we’ll get more Shiv and Greg interaction next season. It seems likely that she’ll either go after Greg for being an accessory or she’d target Greg and try to turn him against Tom. (Maybe both lmao)

If their emotional affair continues to get more intense or things escalate between them it (I’m not sure of the show would actually go there or not but who knows) might start to finally draw attention from the family. Especially since Greg is the only person he brought with him. That is going to bring some scrutiny on their relationship.

I think for the most part Tom and Greg weren’t important enough in the scheme of things for them (Roy sibs) to pay attention to and notice what weird thing is going on between them. Neither were really considered a threat either (so they thought) so it goes under the radar

Also their most unhinged interactions weren’t around the Roys. In fact a lot of the time they are on the outskirts together and no one notices them or how they interact.

Now though? The siblings are going to try to screw them both over when they figure out what they did. (Shiv already knows but she doesn’t know Greg is involved yet)

And that’s going to put them in the spotlight so I wonder if they won’t start to pick up on their weird behavior with each other (or question things they never thought much about before.) Shiv especially

They might start wondering. (Or I could see Roman or Ken pulling a dick move and trying to spread a rumor they’re fucking even if they didn’t think they were lmao. It would get them on Logan’s shit list after all)

I personally hope to see Greg getting even more ballsy next season (which seems to be what’s happening) and actually fighting back against his cousins instead of tucking tail and letting them treat him like shit. (His bitchy little comments at Roman are so fucking funny to me) but only time will tell.

Can only kick the dog so much, you know?

[ultraericthered]

Random Danganronpa Thoughts

And speaking of two actors who both do great as a character, I was thinking about Brian Beacock as the voice of Monokuma in the games VS Greg Ayres as the voice of Monokuma in the anime, and where both of them deliver regardless of which of them you prefer.

In terms of which VA is more “the character”, as in which one better represents and replicates the intention behind how Monokuma was meant to vocally sound, I have to give that to Brian Beacock. The casting of Nobuyo Oyama, iconic voice of Doraemon, to voice Monokuma in the original Japanese versions of DR1, DR2, and The Animation, was a very intentional choice due to the unsettling whiplash effect it would create in players’ heads - they’d be hearing this whimsical, saccharine, cutesy and kid-friendly character voice saying all sorts of apalling, horrible things, gushing about murder and despair, and even sentencing people to death. The dissonance is even brought up in-story. “The voice seemed totally out of place. It was so playful, so unconcerned. I couldn’t help but feel a deep, unnerving dread at the sound of it. It was like hearing someone laugh at the scene of an accident.” The best English equivalent would be like if they had someone like Jim Cummings, Rob Paulsen, Tom Kenny, or Dee Bradley Baker doing Monokuma’s voice, but that obviously couldn’t be done. However, when Beacock really grew into the role and ironed out his voice for Monokuma, he did end up going with a very Dee Bradley Baker-esque character voice that fits the bear perfectly, making him sound as silly as he is unsettling, vulgar and crazed, which makes him such an entertaining presence.

However, in terms of which VA I think captures more of what is the pure distilled essence of the character and what that character would likely sound like in-universe? I give that to Greg Ayres, hands down. Because in-universe, in the world that the narrative takes place in and to the other characters in it, what is Monokuma? He’s a robotic plush bear who is being remotely controlled by a psychopath, who also does all the speaking through him. This is shown clearly in the final chapter of DR1 when Hina ends up controlling and speaking through a Monokuma in the Mastermind’s room that had been vacant beforehand so her words come out but in Monokuma’s default voice, and then later in the final trial we see that Monokuma is literally one of Junko’s mutliple personas she takes on, with her speaking in her own Monokuma voice not filtered through the default voice that’s programmed into the bear. The “Monokuma and Junko are one in the same” thing is even clearer in DR2, where AI Monokuma literally transforms into AI Junko in the final trial. So Ayres’ vocal portrayal of Monokuma actually sells this more, like Junko is putting on a cheery kids entertainment character voice that comes through the bear, but the truly unhinged, monstrous maniac behind the voice slips through at various points, particularly during the second half of the story.

Basically you could say that Beacock does a perfectly fitting “Doylist Monokuma”, but Ayres conveys the perfect “Watsonian Monokuma.” On the matter of preference, I personally lean more towards Ayres’ rendition because he was just so entertaining and so on point from start to finish, whereas Beacock really struggled under lacking direction and having to find his voice in DR1 before improving and killing it in DR2 (and then there was this weird occurance in the first half of V3 where he’d been so out of it for too long that he made Monokuma sound overly saccharine, shrill and Mickey Mouse-esque before settling back into his DR2 voice and performance quality.)  But they both did great Monokumas the same way both Tim Curry and Bill Skarsgard did great Pennywises. Having a preference to the latter over the former doesn’t mean I’d sell Tim Fucking Curry short!

[marnie1964]

Karate Kid/Cobra Kai survey

i'm gonna consider myself tagged

It’s the year 2021 and you’re obsessed with The Karate Kid. How are you feeling?: an unexpected turn of events but it's passing the quarantine, i guess!

Did you grow up with TKK or are you new to the series?:  to be completely honest, i don't really like the movies? i didn't vibe with them as a kid and when i went back and tried to watch them this year i couldn't make it all the way through.* i think they're well crafted movies, but i've never liked relatable young boy wish fulfillment (i couldn't even get thru harry potter as a kid), and i think the first one is guilty of burying the lede twice over with regards to mr. miyagi and later the relationship between kreese and johnny. and lucky me--these are exactly the areas that cobra kai delivers on.

*except for the third one, which imo is a camp masterpiece and also genuinely heartbreaking. it's the only one that allows daniel to be an genuine pain in the ass. i think i've finally figured out what the target audience for cobra kai is: people who's favorite karate kid movie was tkk3 (me).

We gotta do the basics. Favorite character: johnny! what is a man but a miserable pile of bruce springsteen lyrics? or aimee mann lyrics? or mountain goats lyrics? or otis redding lyrics? or--fuck, have americans ever written songs about anyone else? i have an unreal amount of good will towards this man and his late-life struggle for recuperation. he's the heart of the show both in terms of his relationships with other characters and in terms of zabka's chemistry with the other actors.

my deep dark double secret fave is kreese. he makes me feel real anger in a way that's usually reserved for characters in vince gilligan shows. i'm a bit obsessed with him and his preoccupation with johnny and later johnny's teenaged son (I Have Thoughts). the show does a great job of making what he did to johnny--and all the years and years and years of fallout from that--feel really real, which makes him one of the most viscerally despicable villains i've ever come across . it's unironically among the best portrayals of domestic abuse i've seen, may god have mercy on our souls. the decision to pop out from behind a fucking cardboard cutout of himself to scare daniel in tkk3 was also a hilarious galaxy brain move. aspirational stuff.

also--shout out to daniel-san. the writers really had to work their asses off to make him into a character that appeals to me, and i think they did a great job of it. he's a cringey tool who's capable of displaying a surprising amount of integrity under the right circumstances! he's tom wambsgans! he's pete campbell! he's wonderful i love him!

Favorite ship:  johnny & daniel (what if mysterious skin was a sports comedy??)

Underrated character: the True and Correct answer to this question can only be aisha, although i don't think she was actually underrated by anyone besides the writers. chozen is also lowkey my favorite katate child because c'mon, he had everything (spear fights! ziplines! teen death matches! formfitting disco-era polyester button down shirts worn with gold chains!)

Underrated ship (don’t say therapy, lol):  uhhhh... the only teen couple that could have been interesting is tory/aisha. they were cute together and their friendship rang true to me. it's that thing where you're the new girl and you're conventionally attractive, but on the inside you know you're a freak so you immediately gravitate towards the most obvious female outsider. i lived it, bay-bey!

i also think there are interesting things to explore with carmen and johnny's relationship. i don't know if the writers are even aware of it (i lean towards no b/c men amirite) but the entire premise of carmen's character is that she chose to live in poverty to protect herself and her son from a bad man with power. she's thereby the exact opposite of johnny's mother, who (at least by his understanding) married hollywood film producer shmarvey shmeinstein to provide her son with a better life. so, there's a lot to unpack in his attraction to her. also they're super hot hur hur i like sexy nurse thing hur hur.

Wax On, Wax Off or Sweep the Leg?: i can't look directly at it, but sweep the leg. zabka what the fuck man.

Which of Daniel’s dumb little outfits is your favorite?:  i don't think i've seen anyone mention this one yet, but the football jersey with the sweatpants. it makes him look so small and huggable, i wanna pick him up and set him on my shelf or something.

Character from the films you most want to return, who’s not Terry Silver: bring back ali's lesbian girl gang!!! or else--dutch. he was funny and iconic, i loved his exaggerated offended reaction to everything daniel said or did in tkk. also, i'm tacky so i'm a sucker for aggressively bleach blonde hair. the SCANDALIZED wasp couple standing behind ali and johnny in the spaghetti scene will also do. or terry's secretary (an mvp--i believe the original actress has passed away so in my heart of hearts she's portrayed by j. smith-cameron).

Scene that lives in your head rent-free: the whole character development speed run that johnny does from sweep the leg to crying while handing daniel the trophy to getting strangled in the parking lot by his beloved teacher. i'm especially transfixed by that last bit--what's the thought process of a man who decides to publicly execute his teenage student via strangulation? why did none of the many bystanders call the police? johnny is the real kitty genovese, prison for everyone.

from the cobra kai series proper: daniel's decision to greet johnny with a big hug after not seeing him for 35 years and never actually being friends with him (I Have Thoughts), the heinously creepy scene where johnny is repeating the cobra kai mantra for miguel and his entire disposition completely changes (demonic possession shit), and johnny's tiny go-ahead-and-kill-my-abuser nod (his face is so stoney after being so animated at dinner) coupled with daniel's shaky little sign of relief (macchio is really the cutest when he looks scared).

it goes without saying that every johnny & miguel scene lives rent free in my HEART.

Will Anthony LaRusso ever be relevant?: anthony becomes relevant for one (1) episode next season when amanda and daniel finally get around to putting him up for adoption.

You live in The Valley and are forced into the karate gang war.  Which dojo do you join?:  i enter the cobra kai dojo decked out in all of my snake-themed clothing and jewelry (it's a lot). i approach kreese and explain to him that the open mouth of a snake, viewed head-on, is a yonic symbol. i am permanently banned from the cobra kai dojo.

(seriously though, assuming i'm a teen in this scenario i think i would have vibed with tory/miguel/aisha. dimitri and sam would have driven high school me up the fucking wall though. the cobra kai style looks like more fun/better exercise. do i also genuinely believe most young girls could actually benefit from someone yelling no mercy down their neck? maybe so 💖)

What’s your training montage song?:  50ft queenie - pj harvey (it takes place in the alison bechdel feminist karate dojo ofc)

It’s the crossover event of the century! Which TV show are you combining with Cobra Kai for an hour-long Saturday night special?: it's a full episode flashback to the time johnny got arrested in albuquerque, new mexico. johnny's court-appointed attorney is a weirdly hot babe who seems like a super straight laced killjoy at first, but soon reveals herself to be an unhinged woman. one thing leads to another, and johnny winds up in bed with her and her loser husband. there are lots of great themes about punitive justice, people's ability to change for the better (and worse), and what makes someone "good" or "bad" to begin with, but mostly it's just really hot sex. the husband tries to sell johnny a prepaid cellphone and johnny tell's him that cellphones are never gonna catch on, cause who want's to be bothered by people all the time like that?

better call saul. it's a better call saul crossover ep.

(fwiw think that greg 'hbo succession' hirsch should also be terry's cousin greg on the non-roy side. think about it--the roys are small people, but cousin greg is really tall?? and who else is really tall, and a blue eyed brunette to boot? terry silver. it all adds up! this never becomes relevant to the plot, in any case, i'm just considering it canon until the writers come to my house and explicitly tell me i'm wrong.)

Tagging: anyone who's interested 😘

[3195c]

BATMAN #48

2016.1

Newsarama: Scott and Greg, the central event in this issue for Bruce Wayne was this conversation he has on the bench with this character who appears to be the Joker. There's a lot of symbolism in there, with the lake and bugs and the infestation. Can you talk about what that conversation meant?

Scott Snyder: You know, I wrote him, actually — Greg will tell you, in the script, he's listed as John Doe. If I wrote him as Joker, I feel like it would just be too hard to write him differently than I normally do. Anyway, he and Bruce are both just on the other side of the funhouse mirror.

And here, I think both of them wind up in a place where he says to himself, whoever I was before, I feel it, but I can't be that again. Doesn't that mean everything means nothing? And he gets over it. He's building a life the same way Bruce is. There's some macabre fun to him in that he works in a butcher shop… but at the same time, I think genuinely, he wants things to stay this way. He doesn't want to go back to who he was. And yet some part of him knows it has to.

I thought about writing it the other way. In fact, I actually did a draft where he comes to Bruce here and says, "you have to go back." But the problem I had with that is that it just felt so familiar. It felt like, oh, yeah, Joker has to want it the way it was because he has no purpose without Batman.

But it didn't feel right. It didn't feel true to the story. Because the story is largely about, when you're not a superhero and Batman isn't real — and honestly, the whole story, "Superheavy," is really a thesis on why Batman matters to the real world. Like, what's the point of doing all these issues together? What does it matter when Batman solves nothing outside of comic books and even in comic books — he really doesn't solve the problems that we talk about every day from city problems to national problems. And this is the kind of argument that is brought to bear between the two of them.

They are real people saying "my life doesn't mean more than it means. It means I am doing what I can to live a good life and do something."

Here, to me, Joker is saying, "Listen, I know you feel down and you feel like none of it means anything. But it does mean something. And if you died right now, it'd be OK, because you meant something." And that gives him the kind of license, I think, to go back and be who he was before, if he can figure out a way to do that.

Nrama: It was interesting that Joker is still a little unhinged — or whoever John Doe is.

Snyder: Yeah, he's definitely not a person that you want to hang out on a bench with for more than a couple minutes, especially with him waving a gun around. He's not — I wouldn't say he's stable and happy.

But the thing that was fun about him too is, you never know what he knows. You know? Like, I was talking to Tom King — it was funny, because I showed him the issue, and he was like, I would have written the Joker as though he clearly knows nothing. And I was like, OK, I get that. But for me, I just think the fun is you never know what he knows.

He always shows up, to kind of continue this conversation, whenever Batman gets to a point, or Bruce gets to a point, where he's questioning — or vulnerable to a question about his mission. And his mission, in our iteration of him is to constantly go out, be brave, make your life matter, you know, in the post-9/11 world.

Joker will always show up to contradict that.

And here, I think there's a kind of strange sympathy from him, where he comes at it from the opposite. He comes from the opposite angle.

Nrama: It's interesting to see him juxtaposed with the Joker, because they're so different. They're coming from a completely different perspective, aren't they?

Snyder: Yeah, and it's funny because there's a conversation in issue #50 — I don't want to give it away or spoil who it's between — but it sort of addresses that idea. Someone says, Bloom is a one-word monster like the Joker. But the other person says, that's not so — they're reverses. Nobody's story is awful enough to become the Joker, and that's why, at least for me, he'll never have an origin, because no origin would justify a character that evil. The horror of him is that he's so purely evil and not crazy, that any story would feel lacking. Like, nobody what you did to somebody, you could make them the Joker, it just wouldn't feel enough.

And Bloom, the scary thing about him to me is that it's completely the opposite, that all it takes is a series of disappointments to anybody. You know, you start to feel that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, you start to feel "I don't get a fair shake because I'm an immigrant," "I don't get a fair shake because my skin's the wrong color," and you start to feel like, "I'm not appreciated. I do everything I can as a police officer; I really try." And anyone can become him.

He is someone whose life was taken for granted. And he gets a second chance — and you'll learn his story in issue #50. He said already, "I was headed for the potter's ground," and he was someone who tried to make the city better and then was going to be forgotten and all of his life's work thrown away. Or her life — not to ruin who the person is.

In that way, I think the scary thing about Bloom is that anyone can turn into Bloom. It's the reverse, to me — it's creating the anti-Joker.

https://www.newsarama.com/27623-snyder-capullo-breakdown-batman-48-s-game-changing-moments-spoilers.html

[justgotham]

This Monday, Fox’s pre-Batman drama series “Gotham” wraps its winter run with the full, ferocious return of Jerome. Now, fans of the show are undoubtedly excited about the development, but casual comic book types are likely asking a simple question. “Who the Hell is Jerome?”

This is what you’d call a problem.

For three years, “Gotham” has worked hard to prevent itself from committing to any one portrayal of the Joker – the Dark Knight’s indisputable arch nemesis and perhaps the fan favorite supervillain of all time. But over the past two seasons, the show has also elevated recurring guest star Cameron Monaghan’s unhinged, circus-born serial killer Jerome Valeska to a major foe. With pasty-white skin, an ear-to-ear grin and a cackle that could curdle blood, Jerome has been one of the most memorable additions to a show that’s often in desperate need of crowd-pleasing moments.

So why not just call him the Joker? Despite “Gotham’s” insistence that it’s entire run will be an origin story for the Batman’s world, there are plenty of reasons that this one particular piece be put in place now. Below, CBR runs down six reasons why turning Jerome into the purple-suited Clown Prince of Crime will make the character and the TV show stronger.

Joker’s Nonexistent Past Is Hardly Canon

It can be argued that there’s never been a definitive origin story for who the Joker was before he gained his repulsive rictus. But don’t believe people who tell you that the villain has never had or should never have an origin tale. It’s not just that “Detective Comics” #168’s legendary story “The Man Behind The Red Hood!” gave us the most accepted version of Joker’s “thrown in a vat of acid by Batman” origin (written by co-creator Bill Finger, no less). Over the years, dozens of comic creators have filled in bits of Joker’s backstory, from Alan Moore to J. Michael Straczynski, though they’ve often left specific details vague.

Only since Christopher Nolan’s film “The Dark Knight” have people embraced the idea of a Joker who aggressively denies any true past as canonical. This may have been inspired by his initial, origin-less appearances, but back then, such things simply weren’t stated — like most comic villains of the era. So anyone who claims that Jerome’s origin of murdering his mother before going kill-crazy breaks some kind of rule established by the villain’s creators is missing a whole lot.

More importantly, film and TV versions of the character have been happy to create the character’s full backstory when it suits them – most famously the “mobster who murdered Bruce Wayne’s parents” angle in Tim Burton’s classic 1989 “Batman” movie. And stories like that – while usually much more widely seen than any comic book – have done little to blunt the impact of the Joker as a character all his own. Nobody today expects that making Jerome the Joker full-on would somehow taint the character or irrevocably alter how he’s portrayed in the comics.

Every Other Faux-Joker On “Gotham” Has Failed

Aside from the “making Jerome the Joker wouldn’t really hurt the character” case, there are plenty of great reasons why making this happen is a positive thing. First and foremost is the fact that ever other attempt “Gotham” has made at channeling the Ace of Knaves has fallen way flat.

Longtime viewers of the show will recall that in its early episodes, “Gotham” peppered in “potential Jokers” all over the place from failing comedians to frustrated family men. It was such an awkward, story-killing bit of business that the producers soon dropped it all together from their creative arsenal. Later, when the series attempted to revive a piece of Joker canon with the Scott Snyder/Greg Capullo-inspired Red Hood gang, the resulting mask mobsters were completely devoid of personality. Recent attempts to revive the Red Hood angle have fared no better.

Worst of all, since Jerome landed on the show and totally stole the scene from nearly every other plotline, the writers’ initial premise that his (since overturned) death would inspire mass insanity across the city has been a dropped ball. Even when they picked that idea back up as a way to reintroduce Jerome, the story pretty much went out of its way to show how no one would ever be as good as him.

So if the acid-squirting flower fits this guy so well, why not let him wear it?

Harley Quinn’s Impending Intro Is Flawless Timing

The producers of “Gotham” have made it no secret that they’ll be introducing their version of DC’s most popular female character later this season (sorry, Diana, but you know that Truth is Truth). But with some version of Harley Quinn in the offing, the big question becomes, what is there even worth doing with this character before there’s a Joker on the scene? In almost every major Harley story of all-time, the character is played as mild-mannered public servant until Joker unleashes the crazy within her. If “Gotham’s” past is any indication, their solution could be something as bland as a forgettable psychiatrist who occasionally says things like, “I can’t wear red lipstick…that’d be crazy!”

But putting Harley center stage right when Jerome steps into the real Joker role not only solves these problems, it opens up some scary good story directions. Imagine a season of the show where fans get to see the famous Harley origin story “Mad Love” writ large – a mash-up of “Natural Born Killers” and Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan movie where Jim Gordon and company are hopelessly outmatched? It leans into “Gotham’s” very best tendency for absurd action (and over-acting) rather than more lame attempts at making this madcap world feel “real” (whatever that means).

The Show Is At Its Best When It Goes Full Comic Book

Cementing the argument for Jerome as Joker is the fact that “Gotham” only really connects with the wider fandom when it fully embraces comic book identities. Remember when Ed Nygma was a nerdy annoyance who just said the word “Riddle” three times in a scene before being totally forgotten? That all ended when he finally was given motivation to strike back at Jim Gordon and went all-in planting Riddler-inspired clues and bombs across the city. Since then, the villain has been one of the most enjoyable members of the show’s ensemble.

And it’s not an accident that Oswald Cobblepot has remained both the most beloved member of the show’s cast at the same time as he’s been the only character graced with his comic book alter ego of the Penguin. From his crafty takeover of Gotham’s mayoralty to the way he’s weaseled through a crime world that considers him an outsider, this Oswald is virtually indistinguishable form his four-color counterpart. (Okay, maybe add 60 pounds, but otherwise…)

When you compare these fully fledged supervillain turns to the numerous also-rans in “Gotham’s” history (Balloonman, that awful Wall Street reinvention of Black Mask, the dead end Scarecrow story), it’s clear that the show’s creators find more fun to be had when tweaking comic book character’s identities – not just teasing them. At this point, Jerome doesn’t have to be quite the dapper danger we think of when we see the classic Joker. But giving him a name and a “first draft” version of the purple costume would feel earned after so much pussyfooting.

The Supervillain’s Influence Would Cement The Need For Batman

From the first episode of “Gotham,” the show has been caught in a massive Catch-22 scenario. If the series main plot is ostensibly about Jim Gordon and company’s attempts to be white knights in a city full of black-hearted crooks, how could it possibly end in a satisfying manner? On the one hand, Jim fails, and the entire show is a tragic waste of the audience’s time. On the other hand, if Gordon succeeds there’s actually no reason for Bruce to become Batman.

Watching the Joker fully rise up as a new kind of criminal threat alters this landscape in a way that truly prepares viewers for the birth of the Dark Knight. If Jerome takes charge in turning the show’s drab mobsters into insane supervillains, then Jim Gordon totally realigning the GCPD into a fighting force for good still comes up short without totally undercutting its ultimate redemption arc. Plus, the young Bruce Wayne will be given sufficient motivation for taking his quest for justice outside the law (right now, he’s got a pretty good example of police work being a righteous path in Jim). It’s a win-win for the show’s ultimate endgame.

This Show Needs the Lift That Joker Could Provide

Finally, “Gotham” needs to make Jerome the Joker because it needs to finally give people a reason to care about it. The Fox network is traditionally pretty shifty on supporting genre entertainment over the long haul, and while this DC series has fared better than the average “Dollhouse” due to its comic book roots, the show has slipped in the ratings compared to the rock-solid (and admittedly more forgiving) numbers its CW counterparts pull. With an impending “X-Men” TV series that Fox will own a bigger part of in the works, there’s no reason for the network to support the Batman’s world over many more seasons unless it delivers something big for ratings and buzz.

Plastering a fully-fledged Joker on the side of a bus at San Diego Comic-Con might seem like a shameless cash grab (because it would be!), but in the cold hard facts of the crowded superhero TV marketplace, it’s also a no-brainer.

Plus, for all the reasons explored above, adding the Joker to the show full time will be a major creative boon as well, and “Gotham” needs that more than any other show in years. While the series has undoubtedly improved from its absolutely wretched first season, it’s never gotten more than mediocre in quality. Jerome as the Joker provides the wild energy that the series has always flirted with and a marketing shot in the arm that could let this series go down as a worthy piece of Batman storytelling.

[maggiemay67]

Another of my fan fics from a while back ( Parent lock)

The Personal Blog Of Dr.John H.Watson ——————————————— So that’s it.Me and baby Rosie have officially moved back in to Baker Street.Well I have moved back in. Rosie has never lived here before properly.I mean she has stayed once or twice but now it’s official.We are both living with Sherlock Holmes.

After a very stressful few months,it’s nice to get some routine and normalcy back into our lives.Stop laughing!Baker street (weirdly enough) has helped to do just that.

Sherlock has put my chair back and Mrs Hudson is making me my favourite tea tonight.Sherlock used his violin to get Rosie to sleep this afternoon.It worked on me too!I’m a bit knackered, so having Sherlock around to help me is working out pretty good.Greg and Molly said we are like those guys in that film.The one with Tom Selleck,Ted Danson and Steve Guttenberg.Only there is not three men.There is only two men and Mrs Hudson.

Anyway.Enough rambling.Rosie needs feeding and Sherlock keeps calling for me in a panicked manner.He hasn’t quite mastered that skill yet.He is trying though.He is becoming quite fond of her I think, though he’d never admit to it!

It’s good to finally be home.

COMMENTS ————– Harry Watson: So you are living with that freak properly now are you? With my niece in tow!Bloody Fantastic John!

Mycroft Holmes: So you are the alcoholic,lesbian sister of John are you?

Harry Watson: And you must be the anally retentive,sexually ambiguous,tory/control freak brother of Sherlock?

Mycroft Holmes: Charmed.So what seems to be your problem with Sherlock and John’s current living arrangements, Miss Watson?

Harry Watson: My niece absolutely cannot stay at Baker street.It’s an unsafe environment for a child to grow up in.Victor Frankenstein is a liability, with his science potions and seedy clients turning up at all hours of the night.

Mycroft Holmes: Where would you rather she stay?In the off licence you call a flat?

Harry Watson: I’m sober.

Mycroft Holmes: For today perhaps…. but what of tomorrow?

Harry Watson: Baker Street is not the proper place for her.He isn’t capable of looking after an infant.

Mycroft Holmes: Which one?

Harry Watson: You know exactly who I am referring to!

Mycroft Holmes: You actually dare to question a Holmes’s ability to rare a child up from infancy, when the alternative is a Watson! While my brother was baby proofing the house today,your brother was once again arguing with a chip and pin machine because his funds are low.

Harry Watson: Hear that John!He thinks you are poor!

John Watson: I am bloody poor!Can you two stop arguing on my blog please!You don’t even know one another!

Harry Watson: When all I have to go on is the two Holmes I see from the messages in front of me,then yes,I would question a Holmes’s ability in that area!Oh, and I hardly call removing the dead body parts from view and putting the acid higher on the shelf,‘baby proofing’, the house.

Harry Watson: A doctor… not good enough for a Holmes!Your brother does what exactly?What is your brothers real job?Looks to me from all this on here,that he sits about all day doing sod all but boss my brother around!

Mycroft Holmes: My brother defends queen and country.

Harry Watson: Oh please! He make believes being a detective like a child would do.

Mycroft Holmes: Consulting detective. What does your brother do?Oh that’s right, he chooses to follow Sherlock around and then writes about his adventures!

Harry Watson: Until Sherlock Holmes has lifted a gun and charged through a minefield, not knowing if he’ll live or die, all in the name of his queen and country, like my brother has, don’t even speak to me!!Typical over privileged elitists,living off their name and inheritance .I wondered how long it would be before breeding and money were mentioned.John this Mycroft one is probably trying to steal Rosie so he can sell her to some wealthy couple he knows in his fox skinning group!

John Watson: Lol.Harry calm down.Stop being silly.

Mycroft Holmes: Can we really be sure you do not have a similar plan set up to obtain a bottle of vodka.You are completely ridiculous Miss Watson.

Harry Watson: Says the man who talks like a villian in a Jane Austen novel and carries a brolly on the driest days of the year!Tim burton called by the way.He was wondering if Danny Devito could have his penguin costume back.

Mycroft Holmes: Ohh pop culture references…how quaint.I assume I’m meant to be deeply offended by the insinuation that John mocks me to you.

Sherlock Holmes: We all mock you Mycroft.

Harry Watson: The fact is that Sherlock is dangerous!He shot a man because he flicked my brothers face!

Mycroft Holmes: Your precious brother John shot a man on the first day he met Sherlock!

Harry Watson: Your brother threw himself off of a building in front of my brother and made him believe he had died!

Mycroft Holmes: My brother did that because there was a sniper aiming a gun at your brothers head at the time!He 'killed’ himself to protect John! Two years in the most dangerous conditions imaginable.All for John Watson.What does that tell you!

Harry Watson: Your brother lured John to a giant bomb that was strapped to a train carriage.He then pretended he hadn’t disabled it to get John to forgive him.What does that tell you?

Mycroft Holmes: My brother put a death sentence on his head for your brother,his wife and that child!If it hadn’t been for Moriarty returning,that Eastern European mission would have killed him in six months as I told him it would!He willingly went to his death to ensure John’s happiness in life.So please do not attempt to play the 'whose brother is the more unhinged’ game.You’d lose!Especially when we consider the fact that your Dr.Watson chose to marry a psychopath, who then preceded to shoot Sherlock.A Psychopath who helped him spawn that niece you are so concerned about.

Harry Watson: Well, John is still living with a psychopath as far as I’m concerned, just not that particular one!

Mycroft Holmes: John IS a psychopath! Danger is what what he desires most, which is why he is so obsessed with Sherlock!

Harry Watson: Obsessed with your brother?Well he’s not the only one that is obsessed here is he?

Mycroft Holmes: Obviously Sherlock is equally as besotted. He ran into a bonfire to save John.

Harry Watson: John has done PLENTY for Sherlock over the years .He jumped onto a madman with a bomb strapped to him.All to save your brother!

John Watson: Christ! We go out on one case,come back and it’s world War three on here!Can you both delete this stuff from the blog please?You are going to get us all arrested!Then there will be no one to look after Rosie!

Mycroft Holmes: Calm down John.Currently this blog is invisible to everyone other than the four of us.Not even Mrs Hudson can see on Mrs Turner’s computer.

Sherlock Holmes: Obviously Mycroft.

John Watson: OHHH OF COURSE YOU BLOODY KNEW!Thanks for telling me Sherlock.Nearly keeled over there thinking Greg would be at the door to handcuff us!

Sherlock Holmes: Stop being so dramatic John.Even if Lestrade had saw this,he would no doubt still not be able to piece it all together and solve a crime.

John Watson: Stop being so horrible about Greg ( Lestrade).

Sherlock Holmes: Or what?

John Watson: I’ll not make you tea tonight.

Sherlock: Fine….. —————————————————————————————————— MOBILE PHONE CONVERSATION

Am I imagining this or is your big brother and my big sister having some sort of weird playground type slanging match to defend our honour on the blog?-JW

Tediously dull isn’t it?-SH

Very Enlightening actually.You lied about that 6 month mission.That’s big Sherlock.That changes some things-JW

Changes what?Why would it change anything now?-SH

JOHN?-SH

What does it change John?-SH

Is it the tea?Will you not make the tea now?-SH

—————————————————————————————————— BLOG CONVERSATION (Continued)

Harry Watson: Seriously John who is this guy!You can’t raise her in that warped environment!

John Watson: I can and I will…with Sherlock.TOGETHER.

Harry Watson: We could see about that.

Sherlock Holmes: Excuse me…what?

Mycroft Holmes: If you think you have any sway over the child’s upbringing, then you have clearly been brain damaged through your excessive alcohol consumption.You stand before two men whose friends list includes a dominatrix blackmailer,a head inspector at Scotland Yard,the British government and most worrying for you,a morgue attendant .So I would think carefully before you make such idle threats towards them.I could have you deported or placed in jail in the time it takes for me to make a phone call.

Harry Watson: So John, this is your idea of family now is it?THESE TWO?Well that’s just great!Expect your daughter to become as fucked up as everyone else in this conversation then.Goodbye!

Mycroft Holmes: Good riddance!

Sherlock Holmes: Do shut up Mycroft!

Harry Watson: Harry, don’t be like that.I want you to be a part of our lives.Lets all give each other a chance here and calm down shall we? We all think that Mycroft is a bit of a tosser sometimes,including Sherlock.

Sherlock Holmes: Me more so than anyone.

Harry Watson: Well that’s in your favour I suppose.

Mycroft Holmes: I’m still here you know!

Harry Watson: Do you know the reason I didn’t come to that wedding with serial killer?

John Watson: If you mean Mary…then…no…I don’t…

Harry Watson: Because I knew!I just bloody knew the hold this lunatic had over you.I knew he was always the one.I knew you and him would eventually end up standing here one day like this.Together and all officially domesticated.He’s trouble John.I worry about you more now than I ever did when you were in Afghanistan.He attracts trouble.He’ll be the death of you.I don’t want him to be the death of Rosie.

Sherlock Holmes: I made a vow to protect them at all costs and I have honoured that vow.I will honour that vow all of my life Harry Watson.

Harry Watson: I don’t doubt that you love John but love doesn’t keep my brother and my niece safe from murderers and mad men.

Mycroft Holmes: No but my round the clock governmental security team does.Your niece if currently safer and is a higher priority than some members of the royal family.Why do you think this blog has currently been blocked from other users?John didn’t think.He advertised her presence at Baker Street.He spoke about how familiar Sherlock was getting with her.How attached.Anyone can see this blog.Including their enemies.I think of these things even if my brother and his partner are too stupid not to!

Sherlock Holmes Do not call me stupid Mycroft. I did not write the thing.John did.He is the stupid one.

John Watson: Hold on…love …partners? Me and Sherlock?That’s not what is going on..We….we are not…we are not together like that ….

Mycroft Holmes: Oh please!

Harry Watson: Oh please!

Mycroft Holmes: Must you keep denying that you are in love with one another?

Harry Watson: It’s getting embarrassing.

MYCROFT Holmes: Miss Watson is right.It’s becoming dull.

Sherlock Holmes: Oh good they have finally found some common ground John.

John Watson: Me and Sherlock care about one another deeply but we have never.We are not together like that!

—————————————————————————————————— MOBILE PHONE CONVERSATION

Did you really agree to go to your death to protect Mary and our daughter? Is Mycroft being a drama queen or is that the truth?-JW

Mycroft is being a drama queen-SH

Well you won’t mind if I ask him then-JW

John….John just leave it.Make the tea instead-SH

—————————————————————————————————— BLOG CONVERSATION

John Watson: Mycroft, did Sherlock really agree to give up his life for my family?

MYCROFT Holmes Yes John.I have the papers that were signed off.I can have Anthea bring them over.

Sherlock Holmes: SHUT UP MYCROFT!

John Watson: Sherlock why would you give up your life for me?

Mycroft Holmes: For a second time.

Sherlock Holmes: WILL YOU PLEASE SHUT UP MYCROFT

John Watson: No…he’s right…Twice? Why?

Mycroft Holmes: The same reason that you jumped on Moriarty with a bomb strapped to you, remained in the carriage with Sherlock underneath parliament, came onto him when you were drunk at your stag night and moved back into Baker Street..

Sherlock Holmes: MYCROFT I WILL END YOU IF YOU DON’T SHUT YOUR FAT CAKE EATING MOUTH!

Harry Watson: SEE ….VIOLENCE….

John Watson: Hold on..how the bloody hell do you know I came onto him on my stag night?

Harry Watson: Not denying it then little brother.

John Watson: No…yes…shut up Harry!

Harry Watson: Go on John the cat is out the bag now.You might as well admit it. Tell him what you did every night after he died.Tell him the main reason I’m so pissed off with him.

John Watson: HARRY PISS OFF!

Mycroft Holmes: Oh do go on Harry.

Sherlock Holmes: MYCROFT!

Harry Watson: He got drunk every night and he’d phone me and cry.

John Watson: Harry…

John Watson: Tell me how he couldn’t stop thinking about Sherlock bloody Holmes.

John Watson: Harry please I’m begging you.

Harry Watson: How he missed him.

John Watson: Harry don’t do this to me.

Harry Watson: How he wished he would have told him how much he loved hi.

Mycroft Holmes: That almost sounds like exactly the same conversation I received from a drunk Sherlock one night in his two year exile.Begging me to look after John and keep him safe because he was,'the only thing in life that mattered to him now.’

John Watson: That’s it both of you…I’m logging off. Gits the pair of you.Absolute Gits!

Harry Watson: Charming!

Harry Watson: THE THINGS WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH MYCROFT.

Mycroft Holmes: WE DESERVE A MEDAL, MISS WATSON.

Sherlock Holmes: I’m also logging off.I’m bored of this entire conversation.Maybe you two should meet up and share a cyanide pill.Oh and Mycroft, I know it’s a lot to ask of an idiot, but do remember to delete this entire conversation!You’ll give Anderson,Lestrade,Molly,Donovan and Mrs Hudson a coronary if you don’t!

—————————————————————————————————– MOBILE PHONE CONVERSATION

SO……-JW SO?-SH

That was all a bit mental wasn’t it?-JW

Just a bit….-SH

I think they got on quite well overall….-JW

John……about what was said.I think we need to talk about it properly-SH

Did you tell him I came onto you on my stag night?-JW

Yes-SH

You knew that’s what I was doing!I thought it had went over your head at the time.When I sobered up I prayed it had!-JW

None of your feelings that have concerned me go over my head I’m afraid-SH

Then you know.You know how I feel?-JW

YES-SH

Fuck!Why didn’t you say anything?-JW

You wouldn’t even admit it to yourself, far less me.Pointless.-SH

Until now-JW

Make the tea John and we’ll talk-SH

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

The Personal Blog Of Dr.John H.Watson

So.It finally happened.Me and Sherlock had sex.Hot,steamy, scream out loud sex.It was fantastic.Oh and the kissing.The kissing was like nothing i’ve ever experienced in my life.His tongue.That man’s tongue.The things it can do.I could spend an entire day describing the things that it can do, has done to every inch of my body since last night.God he has stamina.Hours we were at it for.He even had me in the shower this morning as well.

None of this would ever have happened without the interference of Mycroft and Harry.So you could say it’s all their doing.The only reason we are together and having lots and lots of mind blowing sex now,is because of Harry Watson and Mycroft and their little argument on this computer yesterday.

P.s - Hope this put a lovely image in both your minds today.That’ll teach you to interfere!

M.H When we talked about the blog being cordoned off yesterday, I did not say that it would be permanently removed.This blog entry is active John.Best delete is as quick as you can.

Mrs Turner Oh boys! So that’s what all the noise was last night.I thought you were watching one of those late night channel five films with the volume up really loud.I’m ever so pleased for you both, but I think this is one adventure you probably shouldn’t have written up a blog entry for John.

Mrs Turner This is Mrs Hudson by the way.I’m on Mrs Turners computer next door.

Harry Watson Lol.This is hilarious.Won’t be long before this is all over the papers and Internet.

Sherlock Holmes John, I have to say this is the best blog entry you have written.Keep up the good work.

Greg Lestrade Bloody hell John! It’s always the quiet ones you need to watch.

Molly Hooper Ohhhhhhhh…..ohhhhhh gosh.

I.A I knew Sherlock would want dinner with you eventually.I told him you liked him even more than I did.I told you as well remember?I’m never wrong with these things.

John Watson Shit!Would anyone believe me if I said I’d been hacked?

Sherlock No.

Sherlock You still haven’t made me tea John.

John Watson Shut up about the bloody tea!

Sherlock Holmes Or what?

John Watson Or I’ll Marry you!

Sherlock Holmes Tea

Sherlock Tea

Sherlock Tea

Sherlock Tea

———————————————————————————————————————————————-MOBILE PHONE CONVERSATION

Yes I will marry you-SH

Good-JW

I love you-SH

I love you too-JW

Now can you make the tea?-SH

[sigurdjarlson]

You think Tom or Greg like to bite and leave marks?

Tom “I won’t let go of what is mine!” Wambsgans?

Abso-fucking-lutely.

Tom is clearly a jealous guy especially with Greg. Oh, lord is he jealous of literally everyone Greg interacts with ever (even platonic relationships like Ken)

Tom wants someone for himself. He does not want to share (clearly). Is there any better way to let the world know this person is fucking mine than to leave the message on their skin with teeth?

And Greg let’s him mark him. He lets him suck marks onto his neck, bite him, run his nails down his back or chest and grip his hips until they bruise.

He doesn’t just let him though he loves it. When Tom touches him and leaves what amounts to huge warning signs to back the fuck off to anyone who might see them he feels..well, wanted.

Despite the roughness of the act he feels wanted, cherished even. It’s like he’s something precious Tom wants to covet. It’s different from the way Tom tried to keep him tightly leashed at work because he didn’t want that. In the bedroom however…

No one has ever treated Greg like that. He’s Greg the egg. People almost universally react to him with disdain and annoyance. So, to be seen as something worth wanting and loving? Someone that someone would fight for? It gets him going.

That’s all Greg really wants from a relationship I think. He wants someone to actually want him. He wants to mean something to someone. Prove he’s not as worthless as people treat him.

And for all his flaws, Tom does in a lot of ways because he does want Greg. An insane, unhinged amount. He wants Greg and he wants him all to himself. I think that, being wanted so badly, would be addicting to Greg, better than any drug ever could be.

And the marks remind him of that even when Tom isn’t with him. He can subtly press on the ones Tom’s fingers left on his hips and feel the ache and remember he wants me, this is how badly he wants me. He loves me?

Not advisable though because he just gets really horny. That 100% doesn’t stop him tho and the he ends up pestering Tom around the office for..reasons.

It also makes him feel slutty and he likes being a slut for Tom.

And as for Tom…the thing is Tom wants to be wanted in the same way he wants. He liked when Shiv was jealous “I wanted to say back off bitch he’s mine” “you should have done that..I would have liked to see it” (although it did show a level of hypocrisy on Shiv’s part tho)

Greg is a little more difficult to pin down because we’ve never seen him be explicitly jealous of anyone Tom spends time with. No one has ever come in and threatened (or appeared to threaten) to take his specific position with Tom though.

(I kind of really hope we get some jealous Greg next season. As their relationship deepens I could totally see it)

I think particularly after the Nero/Sporus scenes he could gradually get quite possessive of Tom (and Tom all the more possessive of him).

And if they start fucking and he’s riding this high of someone actually fucking wants me. He’s not about to let that go. He can be a petty little shit.

Tom wants to be wanted. He wants to be needed. Greg makes him feel that way when he’s dragging his nails down his back or sucking a mark onto his skin. It’s a reminder someone feels the same way about him. They want him. They care enough to leave these.

Obviously If he’s still married to Shiv he’d have to be very careful about Greg leaving any sort of marks but hey sometimes they slip and Tom rolls his eyes when Greg looks so fucking smug about it.

Greg just preens internally. His Nero.

They’re kind of similar in that they both just want to be wanted.

Thinking about the quote from..it was either Nic or Matthew…Greg wants someone to take care of him and Tom wants to take care of someone. This is kinda similar to that, i think, in the sense they can give each other what they need.

Also Greg looks so very pretty covered in marks after a few rounds. He looks debauched and Tom thinks..he looks like his. (He is)