I don't get the part of we are nothing?
i think he said "we are nothing" to avoid creating rumors between his coworkers. but when he said it to karlyle, i think it was more of a "we are nothing YET" since he was still waiting to confirm their feelings for e/o. but i agree with OP, it was giving sm mixed signals. even if they weren't together yet, he didnt have to say all that or he could have at least phrased it another way lmao
Yes exactly! Like I get that he didn’t want to create rumors with his coworkers, but the way he phrased it with Karlyle was way too rough. And it probably had a sense of “we’re nothing yet”, but all he said was “we’re nothing dot”, which is pretty violent to take in the face, especially as Karlyle was coming to ask him out. It’s probably a misunderstanding, but that was really phrased in the worst way… silly boy
You forget that it was Karyle himself that was always telling Ash to not develop any romantic feelings for him, and was it not Karyle himself that said they were no more than sex partners?
As for the introduction of new things without telling him, I clearly recall Ash asking Caryle if they could try something different and Caryle agreeing before Ash brought out the vibrator.
Tbh, this manga was all about the misunderstandings miscommunication can bring in a relationship and I love how they worked that out in the end.
I do think you should read it again, especially those parts you and I mentioned and see that Ash is just a carefree, fun-loving guy that means no harm and is an absolute green flag, if a rather possessive one, but that adds to his charm of course.
I honestly expected people to disagree with me when he’s been described in many subs as an absolute green flag and coming around to defend those parts of the story when it’s such a well liked story. And it’s fine that you and I have different opinions about it, but still. Their relationship is lovely and basks in misunderstandings yes. However try something different does not mean telling your partner what you’re about to do, I’ll have to disagree on that fact. And he did say that for the relationship, but that still does not entail Ash saying in his face that they’re nothing. It was indelicate, especially after that much time spend together. Of course it’s all misunderstandings miscommunications and else, but it won’t change what I felt about those moments to me. Doesn’t mean I didn’t like the story and maybe I will read it when I want to.
Under negotiated things- like Ash just introducing things whenever they have sex and never asking beforehand that’s really… urgh. I don’t like it. Like suddenly putting a toy inside of him when they haven’t really had a talk before about it? Like surprise! No. That’s not consensual, and you shouldn’t do things to your partner that they don’t know about beforehand.
And I’m no expert in relationships but dang the mixed signals from Ash like okay we only have “one” point of view, but the way Ash has always treated him to saying “we’re nothing.” And then saying it again IN HIS FACE “we’re absolutely nothing” oh fuck yourself. I feel so bad for Carlyle, his life is terrible in many ways and he’s so self depreciative, always thinking hes worth nothing and all, I just want him to find his self worth and pride and live happily!!
There needs to be some crawling done if they have to get back together, or honestly I won’t be satisfied with the story…