Respect. It is one of the keys to any healthy relationship and one that is also important in your day to day with everybody. If more people respect each other, there would be fewer problems in the world. So if you ever discover something about other individuals that they didn't want to share you should respect them and leave them alone. And above all under no circumstances make fun of them with your roommate for months to come because that´s just not cool, ok?
So after the pony incident Kirsten and Cam practically die laughing and took any opportunity they could to mock Mark and me, there was the pancakes in the shape of ponies, the thermos of pinky pie for me and the plate of Fluttershy for Mark. The only thing that made us felt a little ok with the constants jokes and pranks was that they were spending their money on things that we could keep because after all they were gifts from our girlfriends. We continue to watch the show as we used too and now we used our pony things while watching it because as Mark said "They are mocking us nonstop so what else can they do."
By the end of the second month of teasing, we were tired of it and started to spend less time in their apartment, sure we still spend some nights there but I went from three nights a week to one every two weeks. Mark pretty much never spend the night there anymore, we still got to see each other outside the apartment and we went on double dates with the girl. One night that the four of us finish playing a board game and the girls starting their teasing again while Mark brought the plates and cups into the kitchen while I put the game away. Mark came into the living room and went to say goodbye to Kirsten and I went to do the same with Cam, both girls sighed and told us to stop and please have a sit. We were a little confuse, but we do as we were told and wonder what joke were they going to play on us now.
Both girls sat in front of us and we knew this was not going to be a joke. "Ok, we want to know what is going on with you guys?. We noticed that you are distant and we would have this conversation in private, but the both of you seemed to be having the same issues with us. So we want to know what is happening because you are scaring us."
To hear Kirsten this concerned was more than a little weird for me, I think this is the first time I actually saw her conveying this much emotion while talking to me aside from hate. I turned and saw Mark looking at her with so many emotions that it made me uncomfortable I felt like I was intruding on a private moment. Turning my head my eyes met Cam{s and I saw the worry on them, she was biting her lip and if I weren't so worried about her feelings, I would find it hot. Mark was the first to talked and I was thankful to him because I didn't know what to say.
"Look the only thing that comes to mind that has changed is that we don't spend so much time as we used to in the apartment. We still go out on dates and I know for a fact that Moose and I pick you girls up from your classes like we used to. So what exactly are you guys saying?"
Kirsten looked a little taking aback, my guess is that she thought Mark was going to either deny any change or possibly admit and look apologetic about the situation. I saw she turned towards Cam for support and before they could continue I decided that it was time for the teasing to stop. "Ok girls what Mark is saying pretty much sums up what has been happening lately. Now if you are wondering why we don't spend so much time here or spend the night, well it is easy. Although we love you and we think you are funny the pranks and mockery bother us, they stop being funny weeks ago. So yeah we get it you think is funny that we like My little pony and that's ok but if you think we are going to be here at your disposal to be mock well you are wrong."
The girls look shocked and after sharing a quick look with one another Cam starting to say that it was just some innocent fun no malicious intent to it. "Come guys you have to admit that is weird that you like a kid show, ok?. Yes, we probably are having a little too much fun with it but is just between us."
Mark raised and eyebrow to Kirsten and she look down. Maybe Cam didn't know but Kirsten had gone a step further mentioning the ponies in front of other Marks friends. When the other boys started to ask questions about what she was talking about she realize that she had gone too far and told them that they were searching for a gift for Marks sister and the guys, let it go. He told Cam about it now and Cam looked at Kirsten with her eyes wide open making the other girl uncomfortable. "Fine. Ok I shouldn't have done that but I fix it, right? Are they bothering you? Is that why you are upset?."
"No, we are upset because you are making fun of us. We know watching this is not popular for guys our age but you guys are supposed to be supportive, sure make a joke once in a while if you want, but you are going way too far with this." Mark let go a long sighed and I was glad to hear him talk about how much he hated this. Sure I didn't like Cam making fun of me either but she wasn't as relentless as Kirsten with the jokes. I knew that Mark was even considering ending things with her of course not because of the show but because of the way she was acting. If later in their relationship he did something she didn't agree with would she mock him until he dropped it?.
Kirsten stood up and ask him to please go to her room with her so they could talk in private, he looked at me unsure if he was ready to tell her everything, but I looked at him and told him that he should. It was now or never. Finally, he went with her leaving Cam and me in the living room in a thick silence. The tension between them didn't went away, it lingered between us, she looked unsure of what to say and I wasn't sure either. I tried to hear if there was any noise coming from Kirsten room, but I could only make loud whispers in Marks tone of voice. I hope they could work it out it would be weird not going on double dates with him and Kirsten but maybe if he get a new girlfriend Cam and I could go with them and I finally would stop seeing Kirsten, yeah silver lining people.
"Moose? Are you as mad as Mark is?" Her voice came just a little higher than a whisper and I turned to give her my full attention, she looked worried and sad and it made feel bad, but even though I wasn't as mad as Mark I was still mad.
I stood and went to sit beside her giving her a side hug while bringing her closer to me. "Not as much as Mark. You need to understand that Kirsten was meaner than you were but still all the jokes were a little too much Cam. Mainly because you wouldn't stop talking about it, it was like any conversation will inherently go back to the show. Honestly, Cam I was telling you about my midterm last week and you actually asked me which pony was the smartest and I know you didn't want to know you just wanted to have a laugh about it."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know I was that annoying with you and I swear I didn't know what Kirsten was doing to Mark. I promise I would have told her to stop it." She put her head on my shoulder and I felt happy that she was apologizing, I was in no way going to hold it against her at least not for now but is nice to have a card on my sleeve.
After a couple of minutes the door to Kirsten room opened and Mark came out looking better than before but it was clear he was not ok. Kirsten appeared a couple of steps later and she didn't look good, I turned to Cam and she nodded both of us understanding that we needed to go be with our friends now. I said a quick goodbye to Kirsten and pick my backup while Mark said goodbye to Cam and went out the door. We walked in silence a couple of blocks until we got to a bar we usually went on the nights we got out of the girls apartment early. After ordering a couple of beers and some fries we sat in a booth "So did you tell her everything?".
Mark nodded and ate some fries before answering "Yeah, I told her that the problem wasn't exactly that she make fun of me because I like the show but because she wouldn't stop it. At first, she didn't get it and was sure that I was trying to break up with her because I rather watch that show but after a while, she finally listen. We are ok, but I didn't want to stay tonight, she needs to think about it so it really sinks that what I'm mad about is the way she handles things and not the teasing per se. So did you talked to Cam?
"Yeah, actually you scare her with your speech so my conversation was easier. Thanks for that man." He laughed and we spend the rest of the night talking about different things we were planning to do with the girls and without the girls. There was this convention of bronies next week an hour away and we were going to go on the train early and then at the afternoon we could go see a show with the girls.
Everything was settled and the rest of the week was spent doing the usual things, I stayed on Tuesday and the girls prepared us an incredible breakfast celebrating that we both stayed which we found funny. Gone were the pancakes in the shape of the ponies, however, Mark and I had already taken away the thermos and plate which we both hide in our places in case they tried to take it away.
Kirsten stood up and hit her cup a couple of times with her spoon as they do in weddings for the toasts "Well I wanted to say that we are really happy that you guys stayed last night. And we also wanted to say that we are sorry for the mocking, so for that reason, we want to give you guys something."
Cam stood next to Kirsten and they gave us each a pin in the form of a tail of a pony and we sighed, fine let the jokes begin. The girls seem to understand what we were thinking and they promptly started to tell us that this was not a joke, they show us their own pins and then proceed to tell us about he convention we already knew about. "So we got tickets for the four of us. We also got the train schedules and we know wich ones we need to take to get there, so everything is settle for our first pony convention. Great right? "
They finish their speech with huge smiles full of hope and, sure enough, a little pride in the way they were handling things. On the other hand, Mark and I share a look of worry and little sadness knowing that we were not going to be able to fully enjoy the experience but hey they were going to make an effort and we would certainly would too. So the weekend came and both couples were outside the convention center checking in when Cam came to my side and ask me exactly what are the convention about. "Well is just a bunch of people that enjoy the show and talk about it, they sell stuff and some people jslafkjsd."
"What? Was the last one?" Just as she was finishing the question we were entering the convention center, a guy dress like pinkie pie walk pass us and the girls stood freeze in silent. The guy turned and smiled at us "Hey guys nice to see you again. This year is going to be epic!. Are those your girlfriends?"
Mark and I said yes and proceed to introduce a very shock Cam and Kirsten to Harry. After he had talked to them for a while, he told us he would catch up with us later and went to meet the rest of his friends that well also dress as different ponies. "some people dress as a character, is what I said before.".
I turned to look at Cam and she was trying really hard not to laugh and she was imitating the breathing they teach in Lamaze classes, then I saw Kirsten and she was doing the same. Mark and I shook our heads, we understood that the dress up Bronnies was something that took time to get used too. The first time we came here we actually left after ten minutes in dying need to laugh out loud and also to rethink if we should come back, but it was the best place to get stuff from the show and the discussion panels were cool so we came back. Also, Harry was a great guy once you get to meet him.
"Just go outside laugh it up and come back, no worries," Mark told the girls and each one gave us an enormous kiss before taking each others had and running outside. We shared a knowing look and went on to say hi to Harry's group before they came back just in case they couldn't hold the laughter inside when they meet them.
By the end of they day, we had actually had a great time and the girls decided which pony they would be with the help of the test in the bronnies side. We had a good time, sure there were some jokes but they well all in good nature and Kirsten and Cam bought some sweatshirts of their favorite characters to use when they watch the show with us. Just before leaving they took a picture with Harry and the guys while wearing the sweatshirts and they promise to stay in touch.
After we went to dinner in a nice restaurant in the city and also went to see a play, it was nice to see that we could have a fun afternoon after weeks of tension. Life continue and thankfully our relationships continue to grow stronger, a couple of weeks later the girls came down with the flu and they had to stay home most of the time. We would bring them soup and groceries but they told us that it was better if we didn't spend many hours with them so we didn't get sick. After two weeks of barely seeing them, we missed them, I didn't care if I got sick I just wanted to cuddle with Cam but she was very stubborn.
Mark called me one day and told me he had the solution for this and to meet him outside the girls apartment the next morning. I got there early and found Mark with two hazard suits like the ones they use in labs when handling toxic material. We put them over our clothes and went into the apartment just to found the girls on the sofa laughing at the TV. They turned to see us but instead of screaming or acting scared to see us dress like that they launch for the remote control.
Before they could change the channel, the theme of Bubbleguppies came then we notice the plushies in the form of the characters that they were hugging. We took the masks off and look at each other with smirks on our faces. The girls just stare at us wondering if it was payback time, we finish taking the suits off and proceed to sit next to our girlfriends. Mark put his arm around Kirsten and I gave Cam a kiss on the cheek and they smile and the four of us settle to watch the rest of the show in peace. Sure later Mark and I would go online and buy a bunch of merchandise of the show to tease the girls but, for now, we could enjoy the show with them.