but that might keep him as MPM lead

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5601273&forum_id=2...id#48131072)

Lynn, with her elegance and wit, had appeared in his life like a quiet storm. She was a transwoman of Asian descent, graceful, confident, and intellectually stimulating in ways that made Gunneratttt's pulse quicken. They had met during a legal case she was involved in. The two of them had shared more than a few moments of easy conversation over coffee in between court sessions, but for Gunneratttt, it went beyond casual friendship. His heart raced when she smiled, and a warmth spread through him every time her hand brushed his during their conversations.

But every time he found himself thinking about her, a wall of fear and denial rose within him. Could he, a seasoned attorney with conservative roots, be feeling this way toward a transwoman? What would people think? What would he think of himself?

He tried to ignore the growing affection for Lynn, telling himself it wasn’t real, that he couldn’t feel this way. And yet, she lingered in his thoughts long after their meetings ended.

It was Consuela, his closest friend, who finally challenged him. Consuela, a Jewish political theorist who had always challenged the status quo, had been by Gunneratttt’s side for years. They often debated politics and philosophy over whiskey, and despite Consuela’s progressive views, Gunneratttt had always considered himself a conservative, dismissing anything that ventured into the realm of social change. But Consuela could see through his denials and the facade he was trying to maintain.

“You can’t keep running from who you are, Gunner,” Consuela said one evening, setting his glass down firmly on the table between them. “You think you’re fooling yourself, but you’re not. You care about Lynn, don’t you?”

Gunneratttt’s instinct was to deflect, to laugh it off, but something in the way Consuela looked at him told him it was time. The knot in his chest tightened as he nodded, the words he had been afraid to say catching in his throat. “I don’t know how to deal with this, Consuela. What would people think of me? Of a man like me… with a woman like Lynn?”

“Why does it matter what people think? What do you think, Gunner?”

Gunneratttt was silent for a long moment, staring down into his glass, the amber liquid reflecting his turmoil. “I think… I’ve spent my whole life hiding. Not just from my feelings for Lynn, but from who I am.”

Consuela leaned back, a small smile playing at his lips. “You’ve been hiding behind your politics too. You’re not the conservative you pretend to be. You’ve been leaning into liberal ideas, supporting LGBT rights. It’s time you embrace that as well.”

Gunneratttt sighed, the weight of his internal battle finally beginning to lift. “You’re right,” he admitted. “I’ve been lying to myself about everything. I’m not a conservative. I’m not against people like Lynn. I’m not against… myself.”

In the days that followed, Gunneratttt felt a new sense of clarity. He no longer recoiled from his feelings for Lynn. He no longer fought the pull toward embracing his identity as a neoliberal democrat who supported LGBT rights. Slowly, with Consuela’s guidance, he accepted the truth: he was in love with Lynn Conway, and it was not something to fear, but something to embrace.

When he finally told Lynn how he felt, her smile was radiant, her hand reaching out to his. “I’ve waited for you to see it,” she whispered, and in that moment, Gunneratttt knew that he had made the right choice. He was free at last—free to love, free to be himself.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5601273&forum_id=2...id#48131130)

Had a taste for love by the sea’s gain.

With lobstermen bold,

Her tales were oft told,

Of passion in lobster traps' chain!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5601273&forum_id=2...id#48131160)

Critiqued every lobsterman’s mood.

She'd nitpick their bait,

Complain if they’re late,

Till no one would dare to intrude!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5601273&forum_id=2...id#48131188)

Lynn, an Asian transwoman, had captivated him in ways that Gunneratttt wasn’t ready to admit, at least not openly. She was brilliant, charming, and full of grace. They had met through a case, but their professional encounters had turned into long conversations over coffee, where their connection deepened. Gunneratttt could feel it—his pulse racing, his breath catching when she smiled. Yet, every time he thought about her in a romantic way, a wall of denial slammed down inside him.

No, he told himself repeatedly. You can't feel this way about a transwoman.

What would people think of a man like him—an attorney with deep-rooted traditional values—falling for a woman like Lynn? Worse, what would he think of himself? For weeks, he battled his feelings, terrified of what they revealed about him.

It was Consuela who finally forced the truth to the surface. Consuela, a Jewish political theorist, was Gunneratttt’s closest confidant. A man unafraid to challenge the status quo, Consuela had been by his side for years, offering intellectual sparring and the kind of friendship Gunneratttt treasured. But lately, Consuela had noticed the shift in Gunneratttt’s demeanor. He wasn’t just stressed about work—he was conflicted about something deeper.

“You need to stop lying to yourself, Gunner,” Consuela said one night, his voice soft but firm. They sat in Consuela’s study, whiskey glasses resting on the polished wood table between them. “I’ve seen the way you talk about Lynn. I’ve seen the way you look at her.”

Gunneratttt felt a tightening in his chest. “Consuela… it’s complicated. I don’t know what to do with these feelings. What if people found out? What would they think of me?”

“Who cares what people think? What do you think, Gunner?” Consuela’s dark eyes were steady, unwavering.

Gunneratttt’s hands trembled slightly as he held his glass. “I think… I care about her. More than I should.”

Consuela nodded slowly, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “And what’s wrong with that? You’ve spent so long trying to fit into a conservative mold that doesn’t suit you. I know you, Gunner. You’ve been supporting LGBT rights more openly, even questioning your political stance. You’re not the man you used to be. It’s time you accept that.”

Gunneratttt leaned back in his chair, his mind swirling. “You’re right… I’ve been lying to myself. Not just about Lynn, but about who I am. I’m not a conservative, not anymore. I’ve embraced being a neoliberal democrat, and I’ve supported LGBT rights in principle, but I’ve been scared to live those principles myself.”

The relief that flooded him was palpable, but Gunneratttt couldn’t shake the feeling that something else was lurking beneath Consuela’s words. The intensity in his friend’s gaze, the way he pushed Gunneratttt toward self-acceptance, felt more personal than political.

As days went by, Gunneratttt finally found the courage to tell Lynn how he felt. One evening, after another long conversation over coffee, he took a deep breath and confessed his love for her. Her smile was radiant, her hand reaching out to his, and Gunneratttt knew he had made the right choice. For the first time in his life, he was free—free to love, free to be himself.

But something gnawed at him, a subtle tension he couldn’t ignore. It was Consuela. Though his friend was genuinely happy for him, there was a sadness in his eyes that Gunneratttt couldn’t quite place.

One night, after another round of whiskey and political debates, Consuela finally revealed the truth. He leaned forward, his voice quieter than usual. “You know, Gunner… I’m glad you’ve accepted your feelings for Lynn. But there’s something I’ve been hiding too.”

Gunneratttt frowned, feeling a strange knot form in his stomach. “What do you mean?”

“I didn’t push you to embrace your feelings for Lynn just because I care about your happiness,” Consuela admitted. “I did it because… I’ve been in love with you, Gunner. For a long time. And I hoped that if you could accept your feelings for a transwoman, maybe one day… you could accept the possibility of loving a man.”

The room fell silent, the air heavy with the weight of Consuela’s confession. Gunneratttt sat frozen, his mind reeling. He had never imagined this. The truth of Consuela’s feelings hung between them like an unspoken challenge.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” Gunneratttt whispered, his heart pounding. “I care about you, Consuela, I always have. But this… I didn’t see it coming.”

Consuela smiled sadly. “I know. And I don’t expect you to feel the same way. I just couldn’t keep hiding it anymore. But, no matter what, I’m still here for you, Gunner. Always.”

Gunneratttt nodded, the realization dawning on him that life was far more complex than he had ever allowed himself to believe. His journey of self-acceptance wasn’t over, and it wouldn’t be easy. But for the first time, he felt ready to face whatever came next—with Lynn, with Consuela, and with himself.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5601273&forum_id=2...id#48131150)