his  hands  are  quick  to  jump  up  ,  one  of  them  gripping  jinyoung’s  arm  &  the  other  sliding  easily  around  the  younger’s  waist .  ❝  whoa , ❞  he  grins  in  spite  of  himself ,  &  he’s  immediately  reminded  of  bacchus ,  michelangelo ,  1496 —-   ❝  you  really  are  a  lightweight ,  huh  ?   ❞   his  tone  is  light ,  teasing ,  but  haru’s  hand  lingers  on  his  waist  perhaps  a  second  too  long  before  finally  pulling  away  to  reach  for  his  phone . calling  the  uber  was  only  the  easy  part .  

it’ll  be  my  first  time  sleeping  over  at  someone’s  place .  i’m  glad  i  have  you  now . oh ,  GOD ,  it’s  like  jinyoung  is  trying  to  reel  him  in  even  more .  is  it  even  possible  for  someone  to  still  be  so  —-  as  cliche  as  it  sounds  —  wholesome  ?   but  that  last  part  makes  his  heart  do  a  familiar  twinge ;   he  shouldn’t  be  so  glad .  he  won’t  be ,  not  when  he  finds  out  the  meaning  of  the  tattoo  on  the  same  hand  that  had  so  delicately  held  his  waist  just  moments  before .  not  once  he  finds  out  the  reason  why  haru  had  set  his  sights  on  him  in  the  first  place .  

the  painting ,  jun  had  said .   don’t  lose  sight  of  what’s  really  important  here .  

(  but  he  bats  that  out  of  his  mind  for  now .  &  anyway —–  the  uber’s  pulling  up  .  ) 

❝   —  uh  .  so  this  is  my  place .  ❞   he  gives  an  awkward  laugh  as  he  fumbles  with  his  key  in  the  lock .  ❝  fair  warning ,  it  might  be  a  bit  messy ,  i  didn’t  really  think  anyone  was  coming  over  tonight  …  ❞

it’s  a  pretty  modest  studio  apartment ,  tv  there ,  kitchenette  there ,  bathroom  there .  oh ,  &  bed  there  —  neatly  made ,  by  the  way ,  with  a  stack  of  textbooks  on  the  floor  by  his  bedside .  there’s  dirty  laundry  on  the  floor  though ,  which  he  deftly  sweeps  underneath  his  bed  with  a  swift  kick ,  disguising  it  as  an  (  admittedly  unnatural  )  falling - into - bed  motion .  he  leans  on  his  side ,  props  his  head  in  his  hand . 

❝  jinyoung ,  you  really  ought  to  have  some  water   –  &  have  an  ibuprofen ,  or  something  .  if  you’re  so  woozy  you  can’t  stand ,  you’re  gonna  have  a  killer  hangover  tomorrow .  ❞  he rolls onto his stomach  then ,  both  hands  propping  up  his  chin  now .  ❝  trust  me .  ❞  it’s  the  second  time  he’s  said  that  tonight  — say  it  enough  times  &  maybe  it  won’t  feel  so  bad .  

On their way to Haru’s apartment, his mind ceaselessly replays the fleeting moment when Haru had held his waist and the way it had felt. The touch that had made the butterflies in his stomach go berserk; the way Haru had grinned. Jinyoung, for a split second, had wondered what it would feel like to lean into that grin and feel it against his lips. Wondered, had he done just that, if Haru would have recoiled and pushed him away. Jinyoung knew had it been anyone else holding him steady like that Jinyoung wouldn’t have thought twice about it but because it was Haru... he couldn’t seem to get it out of his mind. Even as they approach the door to Haru’s apartment it’s only once the other speaks that he’s brought out of his thoughts.

As they enter curious eye’s wander; taking in the sight of Haru’s apartment. His eye’s only finding Haru again when he is already lying on the bed. “It’s nice. Your place, I mean.” The slight messiness to it, in Jinyoung’s opinion, added a certain amount of charm and made it seem cozy. Unlike what he was used to with his parents where everything needed to be spotless constantly and their house always looked like it was minutes away from being visited by potential buyers; like no one inhabited the place. “It’s homey.”

He makes his way slowly towards where the other lay eye’s still wandering the place as he does. “You’re probably right.” Jinyoung acknowledges giving the other a small smile before looking towards the kitchen. “Should I... Um-” Jinyoung points a finger towards it. “Are you okay with me getting myself a glass?” The thought of going through someone else’s things felt awkward to him and it felt like he needed to ask permission just to touch anything and everything. Perhaps a result of his inexperience when it came to visiting other peoples homes or of his strict upbringing. “I don’t really know the rules for when you’re visiting someone.”

despite the low voice, sollie still catches the words and if it’s possible to make him cry harder, then maybe he does cry a little harder at it because he’d missed him too. he’d missing jinyoung a lot, and he wasn’t even sure if this would ever stop feeling like a dream honestly, but having him here, holding him and hiding in his neck.. it was so much. so much to believe and understand, but he wouldn’t have it another way really. and he doens’t even bother with hiding his vulnerability right now either, because most people already knew he was an emotional and extremely sensitive being, really. 

he laughs in a wobbly sort of way though at the joking comment, hardly able to see through the tears that apparently refuse to really stop flowing right now. he can’t stop them either, doesn’t know how to when he feels so close to breaking down once more still. but there is a shaking smile there too despite it all. his soft features lighting up. “b-better than you look..” he does mumble back though, even if it’s shaky and his voice is far too weak. still, sollie is pretty sure he looks an absolute state right now. at the question, he nods though, taking a few moments to try and gain some composure to actually speak. even if the words are still stuttered difficultly and he has to pause every few seconds as he tells him. it’s something that sollie doesn’t think will ever change with him.. the ability to voice himself properly without fear or anxiety creeping up his spine and threatening to choke him. speaking wasn’t easy for him. 

“t-the split.. when we– group.. when the group w-were separated,“ he takes jinyoung’s hand then too, fiddling with it a little with his own two. “i was being c-chased and– and i should’ve b-been caught, but before i could be.. my d-dad appeared,“ and that was a thought he’d always be thankful for. a fact that he would never be able to get over because despite a horrible situation, he’d still found him again. “he saved me a-and brought me here– and my s-sister.. she was here too. i-i got lucky and.. a-and i haven’t been out there since. i help with the m-medics..“

A small smile appears when he sees his joke having the wanted affect. It’s a relief to see the other laugh despite the tears and he finds himself echoing the light laughter when the other claps back. "Fair point.” Jinyoung listens intently as the other explains; the free hand Sollie isn’t holding caressing the others cheek gently with his thumb wiping at the tears. Another wave of relief comes over him when he learns that Sollie had been well surrounded and safe these past few years. Jinyoung was happy that he'd witnessed and experienced a minimum of the horror that lay beyond these walls. “Thank god your dad found you and you got to reunite with your sister too. Thank god you were safe this whole time.” A smile follows those words as if trying to convey just how deeply he truly meant them. “It’s horrible out there...” Jinyoung remarks before trailing off with a slight shake of his head as he does. “I’m glad you didn’t have to experience too much of it.”

although denying the marvelous male’s request for disbursing milkshakes her economical status was indeed depressing, on the edge of poverty. she worked sedulously teaching children the pure art of dance it provided her a sense of jubilation, distracting her from the life she had unwillingly had to come back to. “ no I’m good, I’m not huge fan of people spending money on me, I appreciate the offer though,” she wiping off the last of her tears her mascara coming off a bit. “damn I cried so much my mascara came off guess you gotta see barefaced now” she chuckled, her confidence was badly damaged but, she wasn’t afraid of letting jinyoung see her without makeup since he probably won’t remember in the morning anyways. she grabbed his hand pulling herself up before wrapping around her arm his waist. “here wrap your around my shoulders, be careful I don’t want you getting hurt” her voice was soft and saccharine.

                  ( ♡ )  —  — naia couldn’t pinpoint the moment when words had started meaning nothing to her. all she knew was that the truth of her words, were coated with a heavy layer of rust, so barely she’d use them; and that every single word of hers contained emptiness, only serving the purpose of evoking certain reactions. but when he didn’t show the response she’d hoped for, she was baffled. almost disappointed. if she was honest, naia had hoped for him to be so furious at her, that his face would twist in such ugly rage that he would barely look human. perhaps then it’d be easier to finish all of this quickly. however, being met with a smile with the same tranquility as the night, did not meet her expectations at all and instead she felt the earlier hesitation tugging at her again.

“ well, i guess you were looking the fanciest, among all the equally fancy looking people.” she responded with a dry smile, instead of telling him that she’d been watching him since the night began. she was tempted though. she’d have loved to see his reaction on this but she knew if she messed up, the consequences awaiting her would probably end with her very own death. “ oh, i don’t ?” she gasped again in an overly dramatic-manner, surpassing even the most loyal servant of the kingdom “ i’m really sorry, your highness. i shall set myself on fire to punish myself for the greatest sin of not devoting my whole heart to the king.” a suppressed laugh escaped her lips, the absurdity of her words too unbearable that she’d remain a calm facade. “ less trivial ? i can’t really imagine that your worries go beyond things like that, your highness.”

“ you’re sure you want to be alone with a stranger, with no guards here to protect you ? aren’t you scared that i might attempt to attack or kill you ?” naia asked, a mischievous grin playing on her lips as she was hiding her hands behind her back. he almost made it too easy for her. hidden in the palace’s garden with no one around was the perfect opportunity. wasn’t he taught to be careful or was he simply too trusting ? “ i haven’t.” she proceeded to follow him, meeting his smile with a blank face. she didn’t want him to think she was accepting his offer because he charmed her into it. she was just doing her job and that was it.  “ yes, the darkness conceals the rottenness of everything, but you put it in a much more elegant way, i suppose. –  everything looks indeed lovelier under the night sky, especially the night markets outside the palace.” the lovely view surrounding her, with flowers of all shades enveloped by starlight and the tranquility of the night caused a feeling of  nostalgia which softened her hardened features for a moment, before they returned to their usual sharpness again. “ but i assume you don’t really know them or even care about it, right ?”

naia’s attention shifted again and she halted in front of a flower bed, its beauty captivating her again. as she was observing the flowers shining like lamps with the dancing flash of fireflies, for a moment she almost felt normal;  not like someone who was supposed to let her soul to be stained with blood again. she was listening quietly to him, squatting down with his words weighing her down, blankly staring at nothing. naia almost forgot how young he actually was, probably around her age. to her he looked rather like a lost boy entrusted with the burden too heavy for anyone to carry than the self-centered monster she wanted him to be.“ it’s quite surprising that someone like you actually do seem to care.” she muttered, plucking a flower before she rose to her feet again “ you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself, if you ask me, it’s rather your foolish parents fault ; or whoever decided to crown you. how can they actually expect you to rule over a kingdom when you probably never have left this darn place.” she sighed, throwing the flower on the ground in frustration. “ they act like they know everything but wouldn’t even dare to step outside their oh-so-safe-palace. and yet they decide over the entire kingdom. “if you don’t want to disappoint anyone, you should leave this bloody palace and learn about your people. because right now no one is expecting anything because they’ve already been disappointed far too often.”

It seems obvious to him now, by her words and general demeanor, that she wasn’t your typical guest he so often came across at these palace gatherings. Their typical guests wouldn’t say such imprudent things especially not if they knew who they were talking to. This only served to intrigue him further; a deep curiosity instilling itself within him as he watched the unusual behaviour displayed before him. Who was she and what purpose did she have in attending this masquerade when she so clearly disliked the people in attendance. It didn’t strike him as unusual, however, for someone to assume the royal life was a walk in the park. It was a common assumption that being financially well and in power was all you needed to lead a happy life. And, yet, Jinyoung often found himself jealous of his perception of the life his citizens had. Many sleepless nights had been spent thoughtfully analyzing this and he’d just come to the conclusion that people will always assume happiness lies in what they don’t have.

Her questioning his lack of caution prompts his mind to start scrutinizing the whole scenario that had been unfolding until now. It was an unusual question to say the very least and one that could not have been more unexpected; it forces Jinyoung to start questioning everything. “Will you?” Although he did, for the most part, walk around with guards; Jinyoung had never really seen the use for them especially not in the castle. It had been years since there was a recorded attack that lead to death on royalty and even longer so within the castle walls. Although that perhaps had more to do with the augmented security and royalty leaving the palace as little as possible then the amount of people wanting them harm diminishing. The conversation and general mannerisms of the female before him was starting to make him question if he’d perhaps been too careless as a feeling of unease slowly develops. “If that were your intentions my first question would be why? Is your hatred for me so vast you would do such a thing?” He muses with a pause to give himself time to fully mull things over before continuing. “I wonder what it is I did to warrant such hatred.”

He cringed ever so slightly when she plucked the flower and even more so when she threw it. The gardens were to him comparable to a valuable work of art. Countless hours were put into grooming it on a daily basis to display only the most beautiful of leaves and flowers that nature had to offer. Trimming and ridding the flora of every perceivable imperfection whether as small as a single slightly crooked petal. The sea of natural beauty before them was a fine representation of the feigned perfection the palace liked to propagate. Just like the garden’s, numerous hours had been put into molding Jinyoung to portray the perfection the royal family sought to exhibit to the world. He’d been taught how to act, how to speak even the way he walked was a taught behaviour. So seeing her pull the flower from it’s stem like it was but a mere weed; he couldn’t help but wince. As far as he was concerned she might as well have just punched a bruise onto his perfectly maintained skin. It was a flaw that would, with time, disappear leaving behind no trace of it’s previous existence but it troubled him no less; having been taught to avoid flaws at all cost.

“I believe my predecessors had lost sight of what’s important.” Jinyoung acknowledges quite purposefully avoiding the word ‘parents’ because it seemed an unworthy term to give them when they’d barely aided in nurturing him to the person he’d become. “All the more reason I feel pressured to do better and not let my people down. I had assumed most had a glimmer of hope having someone new taking the throne and was afraid I couldn’t live up to it. If what you say is true, that no one has any expectations, then I suppose that lifts some weight off my shoulders. Although it also saddens to know that they’ve lost faith enough to kill any shred of hope.” Jinyoung admits finally turning away from the flowers to face her. “You’re correct, I know nothing of the people I rule over and it’s something that’s been plaguing my mind.” He’d spent weeks contemplating how he could change that but he couldn’t fathom leaving the palace; having heard horror stories of the way royalty were treated especially in the more rundown areas. And, especially, after his father’s unpopular way of reigning. “Leaving the palace seems unwise but you seem knowledgable on the subject. Perhaps you can enlighten me.”

“well.. maybe i know a guy or two that could get you similar notes since the exact ones won’t be a possibility?” although it felt like it had been ages since jaemin had graduated university, he still knew a lot of people on campus. even a lot of professors who were still really fond of him. it would be an easy task to even get the original scripts. “i mean i just.. feel so sorry. nothing you’d need to pay me for i’d just.. would have flipped tables back then if i would’ve been in your situation.”

❝  —-  no ,  no ,  no ,  it’s .  uh .  it’s  fine .  i  was  the  one  who  asked . ❞   it  would  take  an  EXTRAORDINARY  amount  of  self  control  on  haru’s  part  to  not  …  mess  up  tonight .  he  likes  to  think  he  has  a  pretty  good  gaydar ,  but  when  it  comes  to  jinyoung   everything  seems  to  short  circuit .  even  though  he’d  be  happy  to  have  this  moment  immortalized  in  marble ,  he  has  to  get  up  before  he  makes  a  mistake .  

so  he’ll  gently  shift  jinyoung’s  head  off  his  shoulder  before  standing ,  one  hand  already  in  his  pocket ,  the  other  outstretched  to  the  boy  on  the  ground  before  him . ❝  i  promise  i’m  not  taking  you  to ,  like ,  some  weirdo’s  den .  do  you  trust  me  ?  ❞  BOLD  MOVE ,  TADAAKI ,  when  you’re  not  even  sure  you  can  trust  yourself . 

Jinyoung watches as the other gets up and, when he extends his hand, it’s without hesitation that Jinyoung takes it. "Of course, I trust you.” he answered in a heartbeat because that’s just how little time he needed to ponder that question. “I know you wouldn’t do something like that.” Jinyoung trusted him wholeheartedly; perhaps even to a fault. After all he couldn’t possibly ever fathom Haru wanting him harm. Though perhaps it was his complete infatuation with the other had something to do with his lack of caution.

Pulling himself from his seat on the ground with Haru’s help it’s only once he’s up and, he feels his legs threaten to give in from the sudden weight, that he grabs onto Haru momentarily for support. “Sorry...” he mutters embarrassment flushing his cheeks as he backs away and tries to find stability on his own two legs. The alcohol had really done a number on him and he was pretty sure he hadn’t had that much either.

usagi was quick to rush off to her bedroom to get ready as fast as she could. she found a nice blouse that fit her right. it was off the shoulder and black so very flattering. she also pulled on a good pair of dark jeans. quickly she applied make up to her face lightly, making it fairly natural with some highlights. she didn’t want to be over done, but not done up enough. pulling on a necklace and some heels she grabbed her cross body bag and walked out seeing that jinyoung took care of her flowers for her she smile. “that looks great- thank you so much.” she said softly. “i think being locked in on today…would have been worse on me so thank you for taking me out, it means a lot.” she sighs happily with a smile.

 Maghony colored eyes stared up observing the delicate and graceful movements of the male, simply enchanting was the only how to describe the breathtaking male. How can someone be so perfect? The thought instantly painted across her mind, the image was a precise picture of Jinyoung finally comprehending that he was art himself something Vincent Van Gogh would paint effortlessly and yet so full of emotion. Jinyoung was something foreign and unique about him, she couldn’t pinpoint it. She sat up properly her head no longer resting on his head, she ran her fingers through her brunette curls. ‘ Get those thoughts out your head ‘ she replayed in her mind not wanting to succumb to such enamored feelings towards her friend, it wasn’t like his feelings were mutual so it was better off being left or forgotten about. She hummed lightly looking him with an ethereal veneer encrypted with a smile. She held his hand softly entangling their fingers together “thank you for everything,” she said with a smile, looking at their hands before letting go._ no feelings_. “we split the bill and you got yourself a deal” she replied with a small smile and nod.

there are a lot of things going through his head right now as a sob works it’s way up and out of his throat. sollie had been sure that everyone in that old group had died. that the attack had taken them all out.. mostly because well.. none of them had ever stumbled across the safe zone before, anyway, so how could he believe they were alive? he had hope in his heart for it, but now seeing jinyoung– there and in the flesh. real. it’s a lot to take in, and for a small moment he really believes that this is all a dream.

but how could it be a dream when he can feel his arms around him right now? that just leads sollie’s small frame to shake with the cries that finally make themselves known, as he manages to wrap his own arms around jinyoung now too. and it’s all he can really do for a moment, because it’s so much to take in and he feels like breaking, honestly. he is breaking.

sollie can feel eyes on them too. mostly the guards and then the few passersby, but it’s always a welcomed sight to see reunion around here. it’s so rare, that you can’t help but feel happy for it– even if it always left sollie feeling more alone sometimes. it’s why he always felt lucky at least that his father had found him. his sister was with him too and.. it was probably the best family reunion they could have had, really, even if his mother wasn’t there. 

but now everything feels like it’s complete again. 

“i-i thought.. i–“ he couldn’t even get his own words out straight now either, voice so wobbly and broken. and he didn’t want to say dead either. even if it’s all he could think of when he’d been split from everyone. “you’re h-here.. y-you’re really here–“

Feeling the trembles of the younger against him and hearing the sobs instantly breaks the barrier of his own held back tears. Although, feeling the curious eye’s of onlookers causes Jinyoung to bury his face in the crook of the others neck to hide the obvious tears rolling down his cheeks. He hated displaying vulnerability in front of people in general but especially in front of strangers. Especially when he’d learned the hard way time and time again that in this new world of chaos people didn’t hesitate to use vulnerability against you the moment it benefitted them. “I missed you.” Jinyoung wasn’t even sure the other had heard him through his voice being low and shaky. 

If this was a dream like Jinyoung had previously suspected then it was almost too realistic. The sight the smell the touch; they were familiar. Reminiscent of the memories Jinyoung had engraved into his mind; the same memories he had called upon when he couldn’t fall asleep. or on nights where he needed to take up the night shift as look out and he would have nothing to do except for let his mind wander to the days of past. So convinced he’d lost him forever that, if this was really reality, it would take him a while to truly believe it.

Jinyoung is nibbling at the snacks he’d put out when he notices the others focus had shifted from him to the pages. His first thought, one of how endearing it is to see the other so serious about memorizing the words. Jinyoung is barely aware of the small smile that grows on his lips as he finds himself staring possibly a little too intently at the other getting lost in his own world. He finds himself enjoying just watching Minjun; his eye’s wandering, tracing, every small detail of the other’s features. Slowly engraving them into his memory. He finds satisfaction in discovering small new details of said features that had previously escaped his notice.

So entranced, he almost jumps when the other brings a hand up to push locks away. Forcibly pulled from his reverie, he notices Minjun trying (and failing) to keep his hair out of his eye’s. A small almost unnoticeable frown replaces his previous smile as he absentmindedly states the obvious and moves forward in an attempt to help. Of course, his first attempt ends up futile but Jinyoung isn’t ready to give up just yet. “Actually, you know, I’ve got just the thing” Jinyoung says suddenly hurrying off to his bedroom where, on his bedside table, lay a basic silver hair clip. After all, he too often found himself getting distracted by his hair during long periods of studying; thus he’d found clipping his hair back to be the perfect solution.

She’s not as sharp as the other angels, her wit slower because she hasn’t been on Earth for as long. She’s still getting used to the human quirks, among other things. There’s still great innocence and compassion in her outlook, to a fault even to those like him for has now admitted to being of of the fallen. A small smile crosses her lips and she isn’t sure how to act. This isn’t something Zadkiel, or anyone has prepared her for. Is she supposed to rebuff him? Or is she supposed to treat him respectfully, cordially. Who is he, anyway? There were plenty angels in heaven. Nine other orders. The number was vast. But it doesn’t feel natural to harbor negative toward him, it’s not her nature—Shouldn’t be an angel’s nature. So she shakes her head at his question. 

“Well, I don’t know who you are…. But it doesn’t seem right to treat you unkindly if you haven’t done anything to me—” Aren’t all of the fallen punished for a reason though? He must have done something terrible to have his wings taken from him. It’s capital punishment to their kind. But he doesn’t feel malicious the way she’s been told Lucifer emanates. “I can’t say I’m not disappointed though, that you don’t regret your actions…. Don’t you—didn’t you value your wings?” It’s the one most valuable possession to an angel, their whole livelihood. “And since you know who I am, I think it’s only fair I’m allowed to know who you are.”

A snort expels from him at her first statement despite his best efforts to hold it back. She had a purity and innocence to her that reminded him of who he once was. He saw in her his past self; the one who still had wings. Eager to see the best in everything and everyone. Nonetheless he appreciates her unwillingness to judge him based off the label given to him.

Had he valued his wings? Yes, he’d valued them and perhaps even a little too much in hindsight. For a long time, he’d found himself lost and broken without them. He’d served so diligently and without question for a long time but once your wings are taken nobody cared to remember that. He’d once been content in just doing what he was told and believing without question that the mighty god himself was the very definition of ‘good’. “The short answer to that is yes. I did value my wings, at some point in time. The long one... Well, it’s a long story. One I’m not sure you’re ready to hear it.”

At his response, the way his head hung low—clearly conflicted, clearly regretful for what he’d done abandoning her, Celine feels her resolve falter. She can’t hate him, that much she knows—no matter how bitter she’d become for the lack of his voice and guidance in the last few centuries. But she isn’t ready to forgive him, not yet. Being around humans has influenced her more than she wants to admit. Maybe this is why she hasn’t been able to come home, but she knows the fault is her own. Celine has been unwilling to complete her tasks, too much pain involved in what she needs to do. And without Azreal there she’s been left to wander and assimilate into the world as it spins around the sun.

“I wasn’t taught to hate or resent. None of us were, you remember that don’t you?” She speaks up after what feels like hours of just staring at him, deciding if she’s willing to lose him again. But he’d lost her already so long ago, what was the point now? “You were the one that told me how important our tasks are and how crucial our role is in everything.” So why did you go against everything you told me? Her unasked question pouring through serious eyes as she continued to look at him.

“I remember everything you taught me, Azreal. And when you fell and disappeared I was left to question if everything I was told even meant anything. How much of it was true? How much of it a lie?” She sounds like she’s blaming him now, and maybe she is. He should expect that, even though there’s no changing the past. “But I’m glad to see your alive and well,” though dull in his glow. It’s still him, she can feel it below the smokey aura surrounding him. 

"I’ve forgotten a lot of things about that time in my life because, honestly, I don’t want to remember.” he admits his tone indicating a subtle sadness as speaking the words forces him to recognize the truth they hold. “The things I taught you were what I thought at the time and I later realized I was wrong.” All the talk about the past was making unpleasant memories resurface and Azrael found himself sighing before he continued. “Don’t you see how easily they’ve replaced me? We’re all replaceable. I’ve learned that now.”