[ the suspicion doesn't bother tseng at all. if anything, it's reassuring. if sasuke is given to sharp-eyed assessment of the people and circumstances around him, and is committed to re-learning the things he'd been taught about this dynamic before, then in turn tseng feels that he can trust sasuke to speak to his own boundaries, his own tastes, and not just let tseng run roughshod over them. ]

I do. [ he pauses, momentarily, weighs the benefits against the potential risks, and then decides to be honest: ] I've encountered some who felt similarly. In certain... environments, that opinion seems to be common. I'm glad that your opinion has shifted now.

[ thanks in no small part, tseng is sure, to the aforementioned dominant. tseng nods in recognition. ]

We've never spoken, but I know the name. [ he did read back through the entire network in his first week here, after all... which is how he saw cyram's name floated. their circles have never overlapped in the intervening time, but the breathplay primer was interesting, even if it was all stuff tseng already knows. ] I'm happy to meet him if and when you both feel that it's appropriate, and he's welcome to supervise at any time.

[ there is... a certain amount of privilege, tseng knows, in being invited to engage with sasuke this way—a dominant playing with a submissive who already has a dominant for a romantic partner. while it is most important that sasuke feel respected and safe with tseng, he thinks that it's also important for cyram to know sasuke is in good hands. ]

It's okay. Are you giving me your safe word with the expectation that I will respond to it exclusively, or would you like me to continue honoring "stop" and "no" as safe words as well, for the time being? [ tseng nods, then makes another wry expression. ] Also, I realize how this would sound outside this specific context, but—I am both experienced in and good at causing pain, so if you'd like me to know your preferences in that...