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[castaside]

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Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[castaside]

Macaque can sense Candid's discomfort with the topic. All the more reason it needs to be discussed.

"Good. Because in listing all the people you hurt, you forgot the most important one, and that's MK himself. Of things are going to work between us, I think that's a very good place to start. I couldn't be with someone who was bitter towards my mate." He has to have priorities and that's a big one.

"I still care about you, Candid. I know you have had reasons to be bitter in the past. So whether things will work with you and me depends on how well you can turn that bitterness into respect."

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[noodleboi]

The most important. MK, his mate. The words are heavy in his head and his chest. Candid doesn't quite feel like they hurt so much as remind him of reality. Ground him in a way that feels almost oppressive. Things he knew, somewhere in his mind, and chose to ignore and forget.

MK is important. The most important. The favorite. And he thought he could replace him.

And he hurt Macaque's favorite person because of it.

"Okay. Respect. ...I will work on that. Bitterness into respect. That feels doable. Not like immediately but doable." Because liking MK? That feels impossible in a way that definitely needs a long discussion or five in therapy to even begin to unpack.

Respect? That feels so much easier.

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[castaside]

Macaque nods. "Respect. Respect for him as the mate of those you love. I'm not asking for you to respect him as your original, that's above my pay grade. Your relationship with MK is your own. But you have to respect our relationship with MK as much as your want him to respect mine with you."

"If you can get there, I can see things happening between us. At least a possibility."

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[noodleboi]

Candid nods back. Respect what MK means to them all and what they feel about him. He is their mate, their boyfriend. He had wanted to change that but there isn't any changing it. Now, he focuses on respecting that and finding where he stands with them now. And with himself.

"You always help with I talk to you. Thank you, Macaque."

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[castaside]

Macaque pauses a moment, then reaches over and takes Candid's hand and squeezes it.

"It means a lot to me that you'd do that. At least try it. And we can talk while you're working on it so long as you're honest and listen to what's important to me. Okay?"

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[noodleboi]

Candid squeezes the hand back.

"I'd like to talk. And I'll be honest. No more hiding things. No lies. I'll be open and honest. Even when it feels hard."

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[castaside]

"Then until further notice, we're good."

Macaque lets go off Candid's hand and opens an arm for a hug if Candid wants one now.

"For whatever it's worth, I'm proud of you. I know what it takes to come back from being an asshole for a while."

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[noodleboi]

Candid smiles and moves in for the hug. He doesn't zoom in, through oh he wants to. He hugs him gently and snuggles some into his chest. He purrs at the words. Making Macaque proud of him is a good feeling and a powerful motivator.

"It's worth a lot. It's worth so so much."

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[castaside]

"Glad I could help." He wants Candid to live up too the goals he just espoused for so many reasons.

He wraps both arms around Candid and rests his cheek on his head. "I missed you."

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[noodleboi]

"I missed you too," Candid says and snuggles against Macaque. This feels so good. So right. Oh he missed this more than he can describe in words.

"I will keep trying to make things right. No matter how long it takes."

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[castaside]

"And I'll support you as long as that's true." You get a second chance, Candid. One.

It does feel nice to cuddle him, though. "What have you been up to, other than therapy?"

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[noodleboi]

One more chance. He can't blow it.

"Thank you. Um, well not much really. The original leaves me up to my own devices mostly. I work at the bar. It's calming. Therapy. Guess I just do that mostly. I really need to get out more."

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[castaside]

MK is so ridiculously trusting to leave Candid to his own devices, holy shit.

"What would you like to do if you could? Maybe we can make some of it happen together. All the therapy in the world won't help without some happiness in your life." Or so he's read/been told by Wash.

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[noodleboi]

Oh there is a method to MK's kind madness.

"I guess I'm not sure. Going for walks. Hitting up the arcade in the mall. Going to check out books again. Been a while since I did that," Candid said.

"Would you do any of that with me?"

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[castaside]

MK, what are you up to?

"I would. It'll be good for you to do things like that. And maybe we could have fun." Have you ever had fun, Candid? Really?

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[noodleboi]

You'll have to ask MK. Either awake or asleep.

"Yeah, I think it will be good for me too," Candid rubs the back of his head and clears his throat, suddenly a little embarrassed.

"Innocent fun, right?" He has had fun before. Though it was the more hot kind of fun.

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[castaside]

Macaque grins at him. "Innocent fun to start. No promises." But it's them, so also no promises that they won't fall into bed at some point.

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[noodleboi]

"No promises. Works for me," He probably isn't ready to fall into bed with Macaque yet honestly. Maybe someday. Though when that day will come, and them, who knows?

"You're sweet. I feel like I don't say that enough."

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[castaside]

Don't start nothing and there won't be nothing. Macaque can't say no to any MK-like being when the cards are down.

"I'm just someone who is trying to do better. Like you."

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[noodleboi]

It goes both ways, Macaque. It goes both ways.

"Yeah. And we try our best. And I think you're doing a really good job."

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[castaside]

Macaque smiles, genuinely touched by that. He wonders frequently whether he's doing enough to make up for all the shit.

"Thanks. It's a lot of work. All the more reason to have some fun. What do you want to read about?"

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[noodleboi]

"I wanna read just some adventure book. Turn off my brain and enjoy. That's what I'm feeling. Mmmmaybe a romance too. I mean. Kinda in the mood for something sappy with a happy ending."

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[castaside]

"Are you, now." Cute.

"I've mostly had my nose in textbooks, but I have a reading list of books I missed while I was in the underworld that we could read together if you want to. Treasure Island or something like that."

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[noodleboi]

"Don't judge me too harshly." Candid only fake pouts.

"That's gotta be a long list. Treasure Island? Sure. Did you like it?"

Re: Text - UN: MonkieMan

[castaside]

"I'm not judging you, it's just cute."

"I haven't read it yet, it was on a list of classics. So we can read it together." He's finding himself in an inordinate amount of book clubs lately but that's fine. He likes books.