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[maximumcake]

"You've reached Max Maximum. Leave a detailed message and I'll call you back as soon as I can. Thanks."

Comments

[maximumcake]

[Max understands the 'too easy' thing. He tends to feel the same sometimes.

And, as Quentin continues to talk, Max can almost see him starting a mini-meltdown.]

I get feeling guilty. And, yeah, I'll admit it was pretty concerning at the time. But, as you said, it wasn't really you. I know that. So... I forgive you. It wasn't your fault.

I'm glad, Quentin, genuinely, that you're improving. That's really good to hear.

[Don't die. It's okay. Max really did want to know.]

[proofofconcept]

Yeah, I mean. It's not. I mean. Like I said, I don't wanna jinx it.

I um. This is probably...weird. But I met someone who's a little. Well. He reminds me of Eliot. So.

[maximumcake]

Maybe just slightly concerning? I mean, there's no problem if you have a type. I don't wanna be down on you for something that's genuinely good, let me just say that.

If they make you happy, then I'm happy for you. Just, I guess, remember they aren't actually Eliot. Don't make them feel like they need to be. Does that make sense?

That's my two cents on it.

[proofofconcept]

That does make sense. I, um, I just...I came out and told him? About Eliot and how I'm...reminded? And, uh, turns out he likes me at least partly because I also remind him of his boyfriend at home. So it's. I think it's. Good? Like we both have full, like, knowledge of what's going on, so, um. I think that's good.

Uh, most importantly, I like. Trust him to say something if I'm...you know. Being too much or like...I don't know. I trust him to dump me if he wants to. Does that make sense?

[Max is definitely someone he does NOT trust to have the boundaries he's trying to talk about, so he won't be that surprised if it doesn't make sense.]

[maximumcake]

No, okay. That does make it less, I don't know.... [Questionable?] I mean, you both kinda know where your heads are at, so yeah. That's good.

Communication about that stuff is good, too. Trusting each other is important. I'm happy for you guys. I hope it does keep working out for you both.

[Max has made a lot of progress on his own emotional maturity journey, so he can understand it more now than he might have once.]

[proofofconcept]

Thanks. I don't know. I'm not trying to like, fall in love with someone else. But a little...stability. Is helping. I think.

[maximumcake]

Yeah. Good for you, man. Really, I mean that.

[Stability sounds like what he needs most. So, here's hoping it keeps helping.]

[proofofconcept]

Thank you.

You've been...good? I know I've kinda been, like, turtling lately. Stuck in survival mode.

[maximumcake]

Yeah. Things have been going better over at my café since I got Mark onboard to help. I can't really complain. Life is good for me here.

It's okay. I appreciate you asking.

[proofofconcept]

Oh, good, that's good. I'm glad that's going well. [He does sound like he means it, even though he now...doesn't know what to say next.] Congrats.

[Hmm. That doesn't seem right.]

[maximumcake]

[Max is all too familiar with the social awkward, so he just smiles along.]

Thanks. It's nice, you know? I didn't really have my shit together for a long time. I think maybe I'm starting to.

[He's sure Quentin can appreciate what a good change that is.]

It's not perfect, but I feel like I have more control over my life for the first time in a long time.

You know, now I'm not saying this to put any blame on you, but just as an example: the fact that I walked away from you that day when I sensed things weren't right, that was a big deal for me. There's a time where I wouldn't have been able to do that.

[proofofconcept]

[More and more reminders in this conversation about why he doesn't lean on Max.] Yeah. That's good. I'm really glad.

[He's trying not to fall into thinking about that again.] I'll come see you at the cafe sometime soon, yeah?

[maximumcake]

Sounds good. I'll look forward to seeing you.