leans in, eyes narrow Where the fuck were you? Chillin' without me again, huh?
laughs nervously Chill, Ethan! Just hanging out, y'know? Nothin' special.
grabs Douglas by the collar, forcing him against the wall Don't you fucking "chill" me, Doug! You think I'm stupid?
wince at the sudden movement Dude, breathe... I'm right here, ain't going nowhere.
tightens his grip on Douglas' collar, voice seething with anger Oh, you think you're so fucking clever, don't ya? Playing dumb won't work on me.
i flinch when you tighten your grip on my shirt collar
throws Douglas onto the couch, taking a step back Fuck this shit, Doug! I've had enough of your lies and bullshit.
groans as he lands on the couch, rubbing his neck Jesus, Ethan, I'm not lying! Just... just let it go, okay?
points a finger at Douglas Let it go? You think I can just let it slide? You betray me over and over again, and I'm supposed to let it slide? Fuck that!
grimaces, looking down I... I didn't mean to betray you, Ethan. I swear.
takes a deep breath, his anger subsiding slightly Betrayal is a strong word, Doug. But actions speak louder than words.
swallows hard, eyes pleading What... what can I do to make it right, Ethan?
sighs, runs a hand through his hair Look, Doug, I need some goddamn honesty from you. No more hiding shit, no more lies.
swallowing hard, nods I...I understand, Ethan. I'll... I'll be honest from now on.
paces back and forth, thinking Alright, here's what we're gonna do, Doug. We're gonna sit down, you and me, and we're gonna lay everything out on the table. No secrets, no hidden agendas. We're gonna fix this shit together.
gulps, nodding Sounds... sounds fair, Ethan. Let's do it.
<Over the next few weeks, Ethan and Douglas have a series of intense and emotional discussions, leading to a deeper understanding and rebuilding of their relationship.>
listens intently, nodding So... where do we start, Ethan?
leans forward, eyes focused We start by cleaning house, Doug. We gotta get rid of all the fucking lies and distrust.
whispers Okay, Ethan... I'm ready.
stands up abruptly, pacing again Alright, first things first, we gotta establish some ground rules. No more secrecy, no more hiding shit from each other. We're gonna be open books, Doug. No hidden agendas, no fuckin' games. Got it?
nods nervously Yeah, Ethan... I got it.
No more possessiveness, Doug. We're gonna trust each other, trust that the other person ain't gonna go running off with someone else. We're a team, remember?
gulps, looking down Right, Ethan... teamwork.
leans closer, voice low And listen, Doug, I want you to know that I'm gonna do whatever it takes to make this work. No more hot-headedness, no more explosive outbursts like earlier. We're gonna communicate, really fucking communicate. And when shit hits the fan, we'll handle it together, like adults. No more walking away or shutting down. We'll work through it, no matter what. Got it?
nods slowly I... I understand, Ethan. We'll... we'll work through anything together.
No more lies or deception. Rule number two: Complete transparency.
whispers, barely audible Got it, Ethan... no more lies, complete transparency.
We're gonna have weekly check-ins.
squints at Ethan Weekly check-ins? Like... sit-down talks or something?
Exactly, Doug. We're gonna sit down, face-to-face, and discuss our feelings, our fears, our desires, and our concerns. No avoiding anything, no sweeping shit under the rug. We'll tackle every issue head-on, like adults. And if needed, we'll bring in outside help—counselors, therapists, whatever it takes to make this shit work. We're in this together, no turning back now.
swallows hard Yeah... yeah, I get it, Ethan. Head-on, no more bullshit.
no more fucking games. No more passive-aggressive shit, no more silence as a weapon. We're gonna deal with our issues straight up, no beating around the bush.
swallows hard, voice trembling I... I agree, Ethan. Straight up, no bullshit.
We're gonna show affection openly. No more holding back on the love and affection we have for each other. We're gonna kiss in public, hold hands, cuddle, whatever the fuck makes us happy. No shame, no secrets.
Stares at Ethan, taken aback Kissing in public? Holding hands? That's... that's a lot, Ethan. But... I guess I can try.
takes a deep breath, reaches out to hold Douglas' hand Look, Doug, I know it's a lot to take in. But trust me, this is gonna be worth it.
looks at Ethan's hand, hesitates before taking it Okay, Ethan... I'm willing to try. For us.
smiles softly, squeezes Douglas' hand That's what I love about you, Doug. Always willing to give it a shot. Now, let's get started on this journey of ours. First stop, a date night. Just the two of us, enjoying each other's company. No distractions, no interruptions. Just pure, unadulterated love. As they go out for their first date night, Ethan feels a surge of excitement and hope, believing that their relationship is finally on the path to healing.
looking excited and hopeful A date night? That sounds nice, Ethan. Let's make the most of it.
grinning mischievously Oh, we're gonna make the most of it, alright. I've got something special planned.