Having a safe word isn’t a “get out of jail free” card. Lyle has to feel safe and comfortable using the safe word. Lyle has also consistently struggled to say ‘no’ to Ash at any point in the story. Considering he worries that Ash will hate him for being aroused, it seems pretty likely that he would also worry about disappointing Ash if he used his safe word.
Also, Ash picking the safe word and hardly going over it and the importance is also a bad thing.
Like. It’s fine that it’s badly written BDSM dynamic that would be abuse IRL. But it IS something that would be abusive or at least toxic and unhealthy IRL.
fucking exactly. just cuz they have a safe word does NOT mean the play is safe. like you said he didn't fully express the importance of it to lyle, that he would stop no matter what and not judge him for it.
also, the fact that the safe word is "honey" which ash KNOWS lyle is uncomfortable saying = even less likely to safe word out when needed.
and the fact that lyle still has trouble communicating with ash and saying no.
plus when lyle asked to be put down prev chapter and ash said no till he gave him a kiss and then he did but then didn't let him down till he gave him another one also shows that ash can't be trusted to honor it.
sure this is way better than other bdsm yaoi that don't even have a safe word but there are still read flags throughout.
It seems like people are kinda split on the play and if fans like it or not. I just want to establish that Ash is not doing anything like R or something out of Karlyle’s consent. There is a safe word for Karlyle whenever he wants to stop. For people who don’t like it because they didn’t expect this from Ash you have to remember that he did try this before during some of the chapters before and he hasn’t tried to push it to much after he made Karlyle cry and even said he didn’t want to because Karlyle cried. the only reason he is doing it now is because Karlyle gave him the okay.
For people who don’t like the fact Ash is pushing Karlyle to say what he has been holding in. I get that a lot because it doesn’t seem right in ways of communication. Again though you have to remember that Ash has no idea that it’s about Karlyle wanting to propose and doesn’t know how serious Karlyle had in his head but it doesn’t make his actions right. and we can’t really protect Karlyle for not saying anything because he is also straining communication. i’m not saying any other them are right or wrong tho. I’m not really thinking right now so i’m really sorry if it sounds biased