Jun 28, 2025
AU where Robert just...gives up on trying after the engagement with Everly and becomes terribly complacent, and Hastie has to watch his son slowly lose his sense of purpose, identity, and contentment knowing that it was mostly due to his actions. Is this anything.
#Hastie realizing that Robert has just been...agreeing with him and nodding along without making any attempt at “rebelling”.#Realizing that he still invites his “best friend” Henry over—almost compulsively now—but doesnt interact with him as energetically as before#and they just seem to be awkwardly mourning something whenever theyre in the same room.#and him realizing that Robert doesn't even really seem to go out and party or drink anymore but just sort of...rots indoors all day.#There are some points where Hastie—despite himself—tries to add maybe a slight sneer to his words just to try and make his son snarl back#He wants to see him scoff again. wants to see him fume or snap back. wants to know that Robert still cares enough about himself to protect-#-his dignity...but he doesnt. Robert just stifles a sigh and nods.#It occurs to Hastie at some point that he was the cause of a lot of this#He *was* the reason Robert essentially gave up and let everything that made him *him* wilt away after years of arguing.#Sure. that marriage to Everly was for Robert's own sake to an extent. Cuddy had gotten arrested and Hastie didnt want Robert to meet the-#-same fate. but that doesnt make it any easier for Hastie to look his son in the eyes knowing that hes the reason they dont gleam anymore.#That doesn't suddenly make it easier for him to try and talk to Robert and to feel like hes only getting automated responses.#That doesnt miraculously make him okay with seeing his son look and sound and act like hes going through a depressive episode#which he probably is at this point. or is close to having one.#Once Hastie tries to tell Robert he's proud of him. He figures that it might help at first but he tells him and Robert just...#...makes some face at him.#Is he insulted by the fact that Hastie has the gall to say something like that to him now? is he confused by the uncharacteristic affection?#Is he trying not to cry from joy that all of tat misery finally paid off? Or distress at the realization that the praise he had suffered—#—for didnt feel nearly as rewarding as he had thought it would be? that it was all for nothing? that he gave everything he wanted up for-#-a pat on the back and four stupid words from the same man that confined his life to this?#Hastie doesn't know. Hastie doesn't know what's going know what's going on through his sons mind. He only knows that he can't fix it.#He only knows that *he* was the main contributor to it.#god. im ILL over these fucking losers!!! fuck! these two are so. ough. theyre so...i wanna throw them down stairwells.#i know its uncharacteristic for Robert ro just *give up* but. please. let me be sad and angsty#tgs lanyon#tgs robert lanyon#tgs hastie lanyon#robert lanyon#the glass scientists robert#the glass scientists