LINKDING

<blockquote>Jensen shifted his gaze to Cougar. “I really thought that if I ever had to say the words ‘telepathic disaster,’ it’d be a lot cooler than this is turning out to be.”</blockquote> ➤ telepathy and also truth-telling

<blockquote>I wanted to write a story where, if you reeled it back in your mind and walked through it from the other character's point of view, the emotional landscape of the story was very different. In this case, the story Jensen is experiencing is, "Wow, I have the hots for my pal; didn't expect that ... Why's he acting so weird? ... Oh, OK, he's got the hots for me, too. We're golden." But the story Cougar is experiencing is more like, "Nobody could be this clueless; he must be mocking me ... This is cruel. I thought we were friends ... It's kind of humiliating to be desperate enough to accept a pass this wrapped up in mockery ... Wait a minute. Looks like he could be this clueless. Wow, OK, this is what a happy ending feels like."</blockquote>

<blockquote>In which Cougar goes home, goes on a road trip, and learns to cook.</blockquote> ➤ (or, where Cougar takes his dying grandmother to mexico and learns how to EXPRESS FEELINGS THROUGH FOOD)

<blockquote>"I'm a good boyfriend," Cougar said.</blockquote> ➤ or: pretend boyfriends on a gay island resort

<blockquote>“Okay, no,” Pooch says, holding up his hands, “there is no way I’m gambling for money against you and Cougar.” Jensen frowns, leaning across the table to make wide, concerned eyes at Pooch. “Is it because we’re just that fucking good?” he asks. “No.” Pooch knocks the edge of the pack once, twice against the table. “It’s because I’m pretty sure you can read each other’s damn minds.”</blockquote>