“You’re more than welcome to stay the night here if you need to just - get away from things for a bit.”

“Fuck you! I'm just trying to engage in some quality talk with my brother, asshole.” For the first time in what feels like forever— she smiles. [A rarity in stygian-ridden days filled with masks and façades.] She'd heard of rough pregnancies, but Shiv would like to concur, this would have to take the cake as the worst pregnancy in her personal opinion. A looming divorce once fiery had been shoved into a closet without a label, their family company falling into the hands of Matsson on her own accord, Tom rising into a position of power no one ever deemed imaginable, siblings drifting apart as the moribund crux of Waystar-Royco crumbled in front of their eyes. Times had changed since their last visit. [A distance kept by herself— she made a choice for everyone. Rome had escaped the cage and freed himself of the collar around his neck— why leave a treat lingering at the doorstep?]

「 DREAMSICLE 」

Shaky ground, burdened soil.

The sky dims by the sound of distrust – it never comes out of nowhere. The road taken, the road pushed upon one brings you there – it brought Roy there.

Juhyeok's head tilts for a bit as he studies the words over and over with every sound of his footsteps. The distance between them, a table, is shortened as he moves over from his seat toward the other. He slowly sits by his side.

A line blurs.

"The world outside is unforgiving, isn't it? Even those who should protect you are, instead, the ones who harm you." The words are delicate whispers designed to sting, to bring forth a darkness they both know well. Yet, there is a smile that starts to creep in, eyes that lock against the other's.

💞 plz

I haven't quite finished the show beyond a few episodes from season one, but comparing that to your portrayal i think it's super spot on!

it's not that she wants to fuck him, they've come to an understanding. they know that as a pair they work better like this, in platonic pseudo-marital bliss. but there was a time she wanted to fuck @abusedog , because she's got a high sex drive and sometimes sex and love are the same for her, and knows he does, and they click in every other way, they fit together like perfectly cut puzzle pieces, sharp edges and all, except there. where she needed it to. and at first, when they agreed to try this in a not-so-normo way, she'd finally figured it out, he was exclusively seeing men, and everything made a little more sense, until it didn't again.

she'd meant it as a joke, bringing up the joke he made in tern haven about jerking off in gerri's bathroom. when they were together. when they'd failed to fuck again and she'd been left knowing it wasn't her issue but also wondering if it was. she's making a mental list, comparisons between herself and waystar's general counsel, trying to figure it out. what gerri has that she doesn't. ( tabitha isn't jealous by nature, but as she shoves another shirt into her bag, she feels something akin to it. some sour feeling in her chest. ) it's complicated, he's complicated, she knows. but it still hurts.

sorry to disappoint.

𖤐 ⸻ " oh yeah , watching ravenhead have a complete meltdown over the upcoming election? fucking highlight of the entire day. " words laced with a bit more sarcasm than she normally gave. caroline walked alongside of him , leaving out of the ATN floor and towards her own office. "a god damn embarrassment. i mean , on live tv? come on! show some class." things were already tense within the building as well as within the ATN circle. election time seemed to enhance everyone's moodiness. and she couldn't imagine how election day and night would be . they were already talking over who is covering what . and caroline had the daytime coverage. she stopped in front of her office and opened the glass door . " wanna come in ? i just gotta print a few things off for tomorrow and then we can get the fuck out of here. i need a drink. "

gerri is sure he doesn't realize how much effort kindness takes her. how often he takes it for granted. ( though really, she shouldn't be surprised. silver spoon and all, roman quite likes when she isn't kind. ) her gaze is methodically avoidant, gerri shifts folders, flipping through them with too much effort for it to be a natural act.

“ i am being as up front with you as i can, you're the one who isn't listening. ” the argument she gives is weak as her gaze falls on @abusedog , she knows it as well as he does.

don't bullshit me. tell me the truth.

roman is meant to be her partner here, and that hasn't changed, but the dynamic between them has become a . . . problem, and gerri is trying to cut it off, drawing lines in the sand though that hardly works when part of the draw is how despicable the acts are, when every interaction was prefaced with how it shouldn't happen, won't happen again .

gerri picks her next words carefully, presses her lips into a thin line, looking away as if she can pluck the words from the air. “ roman. ” she begins, albeit a touch more cautious now. since taking over she has made a conscious decision on what to share and what to keep to herself, not dishonest but avoidant. even with him, especially with him. she has to be when there are times she's not sure who's side he's on, especially with kendall lingering in the shadows with papers on cruises, the threat of a takeover, the promise of power has always been a tempting one for people like them, she just hopes when the time comes he'll make the right choice.