Rian have used sex in the past for work (extracting information from Vivian). How I see it is he’s treating the sex with Lorenzo as work too. Lorenzo wanted to bond over breakfast, but our dear Rian went straight to business
If Lorenzo wants to steal Rian’s heart, he needs to put in more effort lolol
I don’t think you are wrong or looking too far into things. Rian has said it best: he described what sex is supposed to be like. It’s taking care of your partner, making them feel good and taking your time. Right after he explained to us what sex is, we’re cut back to the scene where he is made to ‘submit’. The contrast in speech bubbels and the sudden jump to his present tells us explicitely that this is not sex—not in the way it’s supposed to be. This is a powerplay, and we are left to wonder if it is one that will truly break Rian down.
Then we see the aftermath, and while it seems like Enzo thinks he has succeeded, Rian reminds him of the kind of person he is. Rian jokes around and talks about whether Enzo’s ass can get him off. Just think about this: Enzo had gone about his regular day—he’d excerised, talked about work, came back home and started a regular conversation as if he expected Rian to participate—but instead we got the same old Rian.
Enzo hasn’t succeeded (yet). And I think this part of their dynamic will be explored in the coming chapters
great analysis !
Thank you. I thought I was over-analyzing. Usually rape in comics is cheaply used to introduce emotional hurt or betrayal, like a taboo makes it a terrible thing happening to this character. It always got me angry because it felt sloppy from the writers/artists as an easy way out to introduce hurt.
So seeing the comment section be baffled by Rian's behavior made me go 'Ooooh thats good, someone has done their homework on how to use sensitive subjects in the context of the work', which as you can imagine, has a dearth of in this genre.
So yeah thanks for validating my theory. ヾ(☆▽☆)
I find this so fascinating. Years ago I remember reading the fact that most rapes are less about the sex and are about power. I see this being potrayed here.
I usually despise rape, I'm the first to nope out of a fic or comic that depicts that, because it always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Most writers/artists fail to portray it in the right way so I just leave and never look back but somehow they've got it right.
As we've seen Rian has a slight disconnect from his body, he treats it mostly like a tool that's in his arsenal as a spy except when it comes to sex, and even that feels slightly strange - it feels like an act. A formula a + b = pleasure and co-operation.
What I see Enzo doing is making Rian 'submit' to him, speaking a language he can understand - sex. Saying 'this is no longer yours, it is mine, submit, understand this is where you belong now', that's why Rian is so nonchalant about the noncon/rape sex because in the end its not about the sex.
If the author manages to continue on this vein, in this thought process going forward in the story, I'm going to be sooo happy.
Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it. But I'm enjoying this far more than Red Candy. Then again I really enjoyed Red Mansion and Black Mirror so this is probably the same sort of psychological games happening with our characters.