I can't stop thinking about how 82 gave us a bigger insight on both Skylar and Cirrus. Cirrus climbs on top of Skylar, feels him up and considers him getting hard as consent. He's a CSA victim and I don't find it that surprising that he thinks a physiological reaction would count as consent. But the second Skylar says "Stop", he immediately stops and starts crying. And unlike the first time they kissed, Skylar doesn't look disgusted or traumatised, he looked surprised and concerned (?). Because when it first happened, he considered Cirrus someone like Minwoo, who simply played with his emotions as a gay guy, but this time, he knows Cirrus likes him and is not in a good mental state. He doesn't lash out (even when he has good reason to) and simply stays there by his side without saying a single word. The way he viewed Cirrus changed, and so did the way they interact. There seems to be a deeper understanding between them than they did before.
I just think the nuance in that scene is overlooked, the author hit it out of the park with the character writing.
Thanks so much for noticing! A lot of readers overlook this. It’s such an important scene or at least a very impressive scene. I love it very much. You can notice the huge difference from the past Cirrus and the Cirrus now who is trying to redeem himself/healing in the process. He needs someone like Skylar, they need each other.
I really like the wording you are using it resonates with me. Yes I thought that moment of vulnerability was such a grace, and Cirrus was healing. I felt compelled to writte a dialogue between Cirrus and Skylar for the moment right before Cirrus went home because I couldn't stand not to know what they made out of this. But maybe it's just ... How you put it. There was no need for words they both felt the shift and the connection coming from that (sometimes silence feels right when the emotion is fragile and someone feels vulnerable. Maybe Cirrus felt his secret was safe and that hé didn't need to verbalize anything, he just felt it was safe to be vulnerable with Skylar (feeling safe and feeling ok being vulnerable is such a tremendous progress for Cirrus!)
unprovoked