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[asmywitness]

[[Tyler screens his calls - anyone who tries to actually call him, he'll text back in reply.]]

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[asmywitness]

That depends on how much you actually think an entire freehold cared about your specific existence in particular, when they've all got their own things going on. To most people you'd probably just be a low-tier courtier with no stakes and no life. If they did care enough to make bets, you'd think some of them would start actively pushing you to play the odds.

[You're not as special as you think you are, Steven, and he means that in the kindest way possible.]

Honestly, I don't know what I was doing after I got out. Everything I liked felt tainted, you know how it is. I still hadn't found something I wanted to get into that didn't feel like a sick joke against myself. Mai was trying but I was just. Tired.

[fingersandteeth]

[Steven can feel his face heat up.]

I meant my friends. And the Winter Courtiers who found us. Not. Not everyone. I know I'm an egotist but I'm not. I'm not that bad. [Jack-level, he'd call it, if he still wasn't self-conscious about how much he talked about his boyfriend.]

And-- it's not wrong, you know. That you didn't... I mean, of course you were tired. Why wouldn't you be?

I didn't realise I switched styles, gomen

[asmywitness]

He smirks at Steven's blush. And he knows that question's probably rhetorical, but he stil glances away anyway, carefully neutral.

I don't know. I'm just used to being more on top of shit like that. I'm used to being responsible, you know?

Re: I didn't realise I switched styles, gomen

[fingersandteeth]

Yeah, Steven signs back, once Tyler looks back. I know.

Well. If you ever want to learn about pledgecraft, I can try and pass on the shit I learned. You'd probably be good at it. You've got a logical mind.

Yes, let's change the subject a little. It's for the best.

[asmywitness]

Yeah, but I don't want to. If I wanted to fuck with contracts for a living I would have studied law. And believe me, that was an option I got pushed towards as a kid.

[fingersandteeth]

I can believe that, actually, Steven says after a moment. It's one of those very respectable jobs that make people good money.

[asmywitness]

Good money to help support the family, he says, with a wry twist of his mouth above his hands. But only if you break into the field, and I'm already at a severe disadvantage that most people won't look past even with actual discrimination laws. At least with publishing I can make my own choices on who I have to work for, for the most part.

[fingersandteeth]

Well, yeah, Steven agrees. Plus, lawyers are supposed to talk all the time and most juries are not known for being full of people who know sign.