hi. thinking about all the times dennis probably used 'johnny' as an excuse to say something to mac that he's always wanted to say. he didn't use johnny as a means to get mac out of the apartment more, he used johnny to confess his love to mac. to show him how he really feels about mac, do everything that he's afraid to do with mac in 'real life'. obviously, with the beads, we can only assume that there was a decent amount of sexting. i also bet that there was just a decent amount of idle conversation and chit chat, getting to know each other. i could see dennis playing johnny as the kind of person that he wants to be. kind, encouraging, thoughtful, compassionate, complimentary ... all the things he was told he should never be. all the things he's too afraid to be because it shows a side of himself that's more raw and vulnerable and honest. no, it's not an excuse. what dennis did to mac is so fucking wrong. but i think dennis did the only thing he thought he could do, the only way he thought he'd be able to be honest with mac was by putting on yet another mask.