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Anything bad happen to AJ poor kid save him from all the adults, Sharpe included cause he was attracted to AJ as a minor
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Sharpe having flashbacks to how AJ looked when younger was indicative of a slight attraction even back then
He declined the BJ stuff cause it's obviously illegal and it would jeopardise his cover, but I think it's strongly hinted that he found AJ attractive even as a student.
His monologue with Warren is indicative of this. He's playing it up to hide his tracks, sure, but there's always truth to his lies (as even Sharpe himself taught AJ how to do)
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Yess thank youuu oh my lawd. And like when he showed signs of feeling "guilty" when aj brought up the past as teacher and student and how Sharpe said to add truths to your lie-making his conversation with Warren all the more questionable. Also the "only you" aspect is rlly weird but I think it's done on purpose, I rlly hope aj gets his happy ending
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Yess thank youuu oh my lawd. And like when he showed signs of feeling "guilty" when aj brought up the past as teacher and student and how Sharpe said to add truths to your lie-making his conversation with Warren all the more questionable. Also the "only you" aspect is rlly weird but I think it's done on purpose, I rlly hope aj gets his happy ending
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You can find someone attractive without being sexually or romantically attracted to them.
It's like how hetero people can find people of the same sex attractive or a gay man can find a woman attractive. You can tell a homie that he's hot without wanting to jump his bones.
You can say a teen actor is gorgeous or beautiful without wanting to bang them, correct? Calling a kid cute doesn't mean you find them sexually attractive. You can see the beauty or attractiveness in someone without equating it to sex and I think that's ya'll's problem.
Also, the reason Sharpe doesn't want AJ talking about how he wanted to bang him as a teacher comes from Sharpe not wanting those memories of them being teacher and student to be tainted. He doesn't want to be told that a kid he once looked out for and helped to educate thought about fucking him 'cause it makes him feel weird as an educater and caretaker.
Ya'll are trying to read too deeply into how Sharpe is teaching AJ how to do espionage and thinking that everything they say to each other is some sort of mind game.
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Personally, I hate age gaps, but I really like everything about them besides that. Like, everything is super healthy other than that part of their past that makes it questionable. Normally I would drop, but rn I’m trying to stay blissfully ignorant and deny any possible messed up stuff cause I really like the comic
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I think people who never read anything even remotely controversial are boring AF and can't tell reality from fiction is all lol I honestly don't care if something in a comic is morally grey seeming when we know for a fact nothing happened until right now. Even fictionally, AJ wasn't groomed or hurt by Sharpe, so I could go e two shits about their FICTIONAL age gap tbh. I'd rather focus on the fact there wasn't SA between the main characters in a BL for once and be happy lol
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He was disgusted at that time when AJ offered to give him a bj lol it grossed him out not only as an adult but as an educator. It also probably hurt him or made him feel pity for someone so young that was already used to giving sexual favors for personal gain.
For once we get a series where the teacher didn't want to fuck his student, yet people are desperately trying to spin it that way just so they can feel disgusted over something that didn't happen lol
Sharpe is such a green flag, too. He wants AJ to have a happy life. He controls himself even when AJ is the one making advances 'cause he knows afterwards AJ would be the one hurt. He wants to protect AJ from the ones that were abusing him. Part of what he's doing is obviously for himself, but the reason he chose AJ is 'cause if they succeed he's the one that gets his freedom and life back.
People are just fucking dumb lol
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Lmao I read controversial shit. In fact, I probably read some of the most abusive fanfics and webtoons (dropped them now) there are. I don’t really think questionable age gaps are morally grey. I love morally grey characters the most, but dating people you knew as kids or who are under 25 and don’t have their brains even fully developed when you’re around your 30’s or so, is not something I find to be morally grey lol
Also, why does not reading toxic things immediately make you think someone can’t tell reality from fiction? Really weird take. You said it yourself that you like the fact there wasn’t SA between the characters. Does that mean you can’t tell the difference between fictional SA and real one? Didnt think so. People have different standards for fiction. If you don’t care about age gaps, that’s good for you, but don’t try to push your standards onto other people. Clearly, you have your own boundaries when it comes to fiction, so don’t act like it’s weird for others to have their own.
And yes, besides age gap aspect, I like how healthy their relationship is, which is why I’m ignoring it. I like the story, idk why you kinda acting like it was a hate comment. I just shared my personal feelings on it, never said u gotta agree with it lol
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I’m really glad how consensual overall the story is. It’s very rare for BLs. That’s what makes me read it and ignore even things I normally would hate. A lot of BLs could def learn a thing or two from Sharpe about consent and actual care towards your partner. It’s a good story. Also, I love the art style, it’s very unique too
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Thank you for this just cause Sharpe is a relatively green flag character doesn't mean this aspect should be ignored. He literally says that if he indulges AJ he's no better than Warren... and then later on indulges. Consensually, great, but still. He's self aware of that, aware of not just the age gap mentally, but also there is a huge power imbalance where Sharpe holds so much sway over AJ (giving orders, dangling the promise of freedom, financial dependence and could kill him any time).
Everyone who consumes fiction comes at it with their own perspective. Yes I picked this up knowing it was BL, but I brought my own biases into it because the story shows so much of AJ as a child slipping into this life. So I stand firmly with initial comment of saying protect AJ from all adults including Sharpe.
AJ was an abused kid who ended up in a terrible situation with limited hope and options. Sharpe, the same adult who saw AJ grow up as his student, held him to the standard of "You're here because you made your own poor decisions," is the same adult manipulating AJ to spy for him. Even if AJ wasn't drugged, abused, rejected, and abandoned, if he was my kid and I found out that his old teacher had fallen for him when his frontal lobe isn't even fully developed yet, when this teacher had watched my kid grow up and now was trying to be romantically and sexually involved with AJ, even if he tried to tell me "oh I wasn't attracted to your kid in school I just found them aesthetically beautiful as a minor," I'm not listening and it's still on sight.
In a world of Killing Stalking, Jinx, Painter of the Night, etc., yes Sharpe is a better man. But I'm tired of the leeway given to men in situations like this when the bar is in hell.
My initial comment was Protect AJ from all adults; I didn't say You're personally weird if you enjoy this story. But if I'm gonna be deemed weird for 'reading too deeply' into this narrative, I'd take that any day over the mental gymnastics being done to give men, even fictional men, so much undeserved grace.
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You literally tried to paint Sharpe as a pedophile just 'cause he admitted that AJ has always been a pretty kid lol
You are completely ignoring my entire post 'cause you think that if someone finds another human being visually pleasing it means they wanna bone them.
Sharpe didn't become romantically or sexually attracted to AJ till after the met up again. You can tell that he genuinely wants the best for AJ and that's why he gave him this opportunity to do something that could grant him freedom for the rest of his life. Yeah, it's a dangerous job, but so is being a prostitute for a psycho who literally has you drugged up and gang raped.
AJ never got the chance to have a normal childhood or adult life. Sharpe is the one who is helping him get this chance and all ya'll can think is "ewwww men amiright" when there hasn't been anything sus this whole time. Also, Sharpe says some mean shit but that's 'cause AJ is a snarky kid and does things to push his buttons. They've both got trust issues between the two of them as well given their history.
This series wasn't meant to be a slice of life one where the conflict is barely even surface level deep. Their fighting is part of what makes this story more realistic and involved. If you can't even comprehend this then maybe you should go read something else instead of trying to make mountains out of mole hills.
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I will be honest. I never would’ve read that story if I came across it now. It’s one of the first stories I’ve read, I absolutely despise age gaps in any kind of romantic webtoons, and never would’ve read it if I was just to start it. I just simply can’t tolerate it usually because on a large part I do read only fiction that also somewhat agrees with my real life values (most of the time), otherwise it frustrates me. But since I’ve started reading this a while ago, and I like the plot and have a somewhat sentiment towards the characters + like them as individuals, I kinda try my best to ignore it and read it for the story and the healthy aspects of their relationship. But yes, for a large part I do agree with you and that’s the kind of point of view I usually have too. This webtoon is kind of an exception for me, maybe also because it’s not so in your face.
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I see it differently - I’m actually impressed with how this author develops back story to make both characters sympathetic. Sharpe was also a kid (16 years old) with no where to go when he was manipulated into a horrifying “career”. He spent 10 years in that state knowing he’d be killed if he tried to get out, and when his contract was up, he isolated himself from people (5 years there and as AJ notices, his place doesn’t even look lived in). He’s got a hard learned shell of hardness because he was forced to develop that to survive in his circumstances.
I think in his association with AJ, Sharpe is recovering parts of his own humanity. Yes, he starts from what he has learned - manipulation, but we’re seeing that change thru the course of this. We are primarily seeing the story from AJ’s POV, and his vulnerabilities are obvious. But even tho strong, stern, and stoic is mainly what we see of Sharpe, AJ is his catalyst for growth.
I really like how this author shows the range and depth of how different forms of abuse affect people at any age, and yet how they can grow and develop and change patterns of behavior. Yeah, the artwork was what first caught my attention (both AJ and Sharpe are beautiful men), but in reading it, I’m really impressed with the development of the characters. I don’t see a need to give grace to either character - their backgrounds brought them to where they are, and their association is helping each learn.
Yes, there is an age and power gap, but I think these last few chapters clearly show Sharpe trying to be very respectful of that distance in letting AJ take the lead in anything personal developing between them.
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I really tried to like it. I really tried to suspend my disbelief. But mentally she was 29 when he was 10. So the ick I felt grew and grew as her feelings towards him changed too. I really tried to like it for the positive aspects but I could not get past the fact that she was 30 when he was 10, 40 when he was 20, etc, raising him then getting possessive over him, I really tried yo :((((((
THIS IS GONNA BE TRAGIC CAN SOMEONE PLEASE SPOIL ME WHY'S IT GONNA BE TRAGIC IS THE ASSHAT CROWN PRINCE GONNA RUIN POOR MC'S HOMETOWN???
I only read some parts of the novel but as of now mc was forced to be his concubine as an exchange of saving his bff life bcoz he was accused of running away with the prince’s fiance. The prince order the guards to kill him on the spot if they find him. But it was his plot to crush the mc’s will by forcing him to beg n cry n give him a bj. He also publicly humiliated mc with his new lover, rapes him untill he bleeds up(mouth) n down (more than 4 times raping mc, jamming raw with no lube nor preparation.) still at volume 4 of the novel idk if i can cotinue further untill volume 11.
Overall, Idk bout tragic but no redemption arc can make me like this mfking prince.
@Angela thank you for your service in reading that and letting me know
Because jesus fcking christ what the hell is that depravity
Why is the Prince so diabolical
Fckass ginger, I hope MC escapes and lives happy and free
Im gonna hold your hands what im gonna say this, but holy fucking shit! Im at volume six rn
Ruth did try to escaped but Ail managed to capture him AND ALMOST FUCKING KILLING HIM. He was so mad that he crushed Ruth’s windpipe, Ruth was so lifeless and limp it was untill a servant knock in the door he finally realised what he was doing. And you whats fucked up? He doesny care if Ruth died that time HE ONLY CARES THAT RUTH DEATH WILL MAKE HIM HURT. He was like “ even if he was hurt or die that day i can just burried his corpse in this castle…. But i dont want his death will lead me feeeling hurt”
Now im at the part where he Rapes Ruth on the floor. Ruth was struggling so much n he pull his hair to prevent him from escaping through the door, twisted his body n slap Ruth untill he’s bleeding. Not once or twice he slap! Also also punched Ruth in the stomach and had the fucking audacity to asked Ruth for his heart.
Where’s the death note? WHERE IS THE FUCKING DEATH NOTE!!!!!
Oh also, he cant leave this prince yet… this lucifer threatens Ruth he will kill his mom n sis.
............ I know that yaoi has a lot of these tropes n stuff, but this story hurting more than usual because Ruth is such a down to earth sweetheart
Ur right about the death note that Princes name gonna be first
Where were you able to read the novel pleasee
There's no way reddeming this unless this is a 2ha situation
Wtf. This was not what I imagined when this story began. Thought we were gonna get something cute.