Omg thank you! The discourse around this has been so so exhausting to read. Why is it so hard to find nuanced takes? It's either people dismissing others for being uncomfortable claiming this is "toxic yaoi" (as if you can't write something toxic without rape), people calling others names just for trying to explain how in character this is, people talking about how much they love rape, people proudly announcing that they're dropping this and shaming anyone who keeps reading as a "rape gooner," people arguing that it's not rape, people being disappointed about the rape not because they think it's bad writing but because they wanted to goon to BDSM smut and not to this, people calling others vanilla and acting like this counts as BDSM??? I'm tired. People feeling uncomfortable aren't snowflakes or vanilla when the scene was meant to be uncomfortable. People being disappointed aren't dumb when rape is so overused. Some just weren't prepared for things to get this uncomfortable. The main takeaway for me has been that so many people on both sides of the argument read anything "BL" as pornography. Some are happy because they have a fetish and the sexual violence turns them on, some are disappointed because they were expecting consensual BDSM play and got this. I'm personally hoping this doesn't take a romantic turn.
Though I'm confused why you made an alt to say this when you think your takes are correct
yeah ur title is correct!
perfectly said
i was so frustrated by the discourse i actually made an account just so i could post this LMAO i'm very much a lurker in the bl community but i couldn't keep reading the same fucking bs you mentioned
Not trying to argue (I agree with you) just giving my two cents about why the sex scene happens now instead of later.
Incheol is feeling very pressured by Rep. Lee to close this deal, even if she says not to rush it he's feeling like he's losing favor and relevance being in that district, away from her. And he has competition (his senior) so he has to be "quick on his feet" and not hesitate.
That's what I think anyway.
also you're SO right about the core of ppl's disappointment one way or another is bc of their consumption of BL as porn! i hate to sound like an asshole but the reading comprehension surrounding this story is at an all time low. or maybe it's not about reading comprehension but just a lack of appreciation for the actual plot and complex characters. idk i'd like to think ppl also want to read thoughtful stories and not just porn but it is what it is
yes!!! i understand the pressure incheol is feeling to get this done and get back in office before he's replaced. every move he's made with pyeonghwa was immediately preceded by a foreboding interaction with someone in office. to me, incheol saw pyeonghwa pulling away as losing his opportunity to obtain important information and further delay his progress on the project. he then kisses him as a way to 'express consent' without actually having to verbalize a desire he doesn't possess and actively disgusts him.
i was just so shocked by how genuinely disturbing the scene was. it makes a lot of sense that it happens at this point though. incheol's BEEN rapidly approaching his wit's end with his job, and i wouldn't be surprised if it's also a way for him to punish himself for letting it get to this point in the first place.
Oh yeah, it's very disturbing. I felt very uncomfortable and sad. Like, it was brutal.
i love this comment. it’s so frustrating to see people be like “well what did you expect”. people are allowed to be upset with rape scenes without being dismissed as ignorant or naive. this chapter wasn’t surprising to me but why are we mad at people who are
1) was this scene in character and did it make sense at this point in the story? yes
2) is it ok to still be disappointed by the choice to include dub/non con? yes
3) did literally anyone expect a fluffy lovey dovey sex scene this early in the story? no. i assume people (like me) were hoping that actual penetrative sex would occur MUCH LATER in the story so that it WOULDNT be rape and would still make sense for the characters
4) are you sick in the head if you found this scene hot or wanted worse things to happen to incheol? most likely, please seek professional help
5) is anyone who continues to read the story mentally ill? probably not. so far, the author is making very clear commentary against these characters' choices, and if you're still reading, then hopefully you're still aligned with their message. there are still MANY directions the story can go though.
6) are you mentally weak or too vanilla if you decide to drop it? probably not. everyone has a different tolerance for these things. however, the story is not automatically BAD just because it makes you uncomfortable! it's SUPPOSED to be uncomfortable, it's the physical manifestation of how incheol's boss has been abusing him and fucking him over!!!
me personally, I will try to let this marinate for a bit. I'm interested in seeing if the author will allow the characters redemption/salvation, or if it's going to be more of a tragic story. Unsure if romance is even in the cards for them. I'm hoping that they'll grow closer by working together to undermine Lee's power or maybe somehow finesse the project so that he doesn't actually have to sell the gym? idfk. godspeed yall o7