So I found this fic after reading your lovely transverse story (Sorry, I know how horrible I am with commenting) and I just wanted to add my praise for this verse. The whole subtle renegotiation of Stephen's rules was unsettling to read and I love how you constructed the story so it wasn't just black and white, and the reader could clearly see and empathise with Stephen as he was being pulled in deeper. Sorry, probably not explaining myself well but I would say the feeling evoked was similar to that I had when reading Animal Farm, with the slow change of the rules. The way the abusive seemed to gradually intensify as Stephen had less and less self worth felt very realistic, as did Jon's reaction.

I was sort of saddened by Stephen not being on the air in the end even though, once again, it was very realistic with the huge scandal and the composition of his audience. In my head I'm now adding a little coda, where he gets a new show and a lot of the nation still love him and send him eagle plush toys :)

Sorry that wasn't very clear, (Thus the ridiculous amount of edits I need before I post anything), but I loved the story and how you captured the complexities that would exist in such a relationship.