ITL 243

[CourtneyLee]

More Remin and Tano--yay! Loved how they were in Remin's office.

More Xio Voe and Anosanim--Yay! I love how Xio Voe is getting closer to Anosanim. And I love that Talin and Ritek spent their time making out. I wonder if they'l ever actually have sex.

Desin and the cop--dude, seriously, you need to remember where your office is so that you can have a handly place to have lustsex without having to think about it.

Selorin and Pelu--Pelu is like a bela without the bela. Devoted to fulfilling Selorin's sexual needs and mostly blind to everything else. It's entertaining.

I think my favorite parts of the chapter were Talin's observations about Xio Voe's feelings for Anosanim:

He knew that Xio Voe did love Anosanim already; he could see it, there on Xio Voe’s face.  But he didn’t know how to explain it to Anosanim convincingly, and he knew that, “He wouldn’t have bothered to go to lunch with you if he didn’t love you,” wouldn’t be enough for Anosanim.  He’d tried; it hadn’t worked.
.....
Xio Voe’s deep voice was smooth with warmth, at least to Talin’s ear; he’d realized early on that he heard things in Xio Voe’s tone that no one else did.
.....
 They made a few more comments to each other, but there was already a fresh sparkle in Anosanim’s eyes.  He was beginning to get what he wanted.  It wasn’t like Xio Voe to change clothes just for a quick lunch, and it wasn’t like Xio Voe to drop such flattering comments.  To humor Kudorin, maybe, but just for Anosanim?  He had to have an ulterior motive.

            “He wants you to like him,” Talin decided, as Xio Voe strode away.

Remin sending Tano to an inatunin run by former pharonic belas? AWESOME.  I loved everything about what we saw there, from the professionalism of the owner (I'm assuming it was the owner) to Tano's eagerness to the lovely room for his massage and how his first visit would be free. I hope we get details next chapter. Detailed details.

Kudorin and Xio Voe's argument was intense. It's good to see them still in conflict because while they love each other very much, they are still so newly married and are such drastically different people that butting heads, hurt feelings, and desperate attempts to fix the problem are bound to happen. I found it a huge testament to Xio Voe's love and devotion to Kudorin that he'd suggest that Kudorin find someone else, misguided though it was. He loves Kudorin so much that all he wants in life is to see that Kudorin has everything he needs and he has enough self awareness to know that he's still not Kudorin's ideal partner when it comes to relating to Kudorin's siblings.

However, he's blinded enough by Kudorin's divinity and he's so used to instant gratification that he wants the problem solved NOW in the most efficient way possible, even when he's not the whole problem. The problem, like most problems in a marriage, is  being caused by both of them to some degree and while Xio Voe loves the non-divine aspect of his husband, he isn't fully realizing that as a man Kudorin can make mistakes and have bad husband moments and get stuck in behavioral ruts just like everyone else can.

Honestly, I think Xio Voe is making great progress and Kudorin is pushing too hard. He needs to step back a bit, stop the constant pushing, and make it more occaisional. Xio Voe really is evolving, and evolving well. I think Kudorin's divine perspective is getting colored by his human impatience: he can see what a loving brother Xio Voe will become and he wants to rush it. I hope his visit with Anikira goes well; being married to a deity who is also a man has got to be frustrating and she's so good at it. I want her to talk to Xio Voe about it, too.

[Mountie]

Since the chapter ended with the argument I am going to start there.  CL I agree with your assessment about Xio Voe.  I can understand why Kudorin didn't want to have this talk with Xio Voe.  Back when Kudorin and Xio Voe became engaged and met for their interview with Remin this is a s close as they came to addressing the issue about closeness...

“Kudorin is very open about his sexual habits, in certain circles,” the royal high priest said. “He’s likely to tell me, Anikira, and our brothers, everything about your sex life. Minute details will be included. He’s also likely, on occasion, to engage in intimacies in front of us. Or to attend a private sexual orgy with you, and initiate sex with you in front of family members. How do you feel about that?”

 “The boundaries that I was taught to police and respect are almost nonexistent in Anosukinom’s life,” Xio Voe admitted. “I have already been more intimate with his brothers than I would have otherwise expected. Sex in front of a crowd of relatives is not something that I ever planned to initiate, but if it pleases Anosukinom, then I am willing to set aside some of my own hesitance. I trust him enough to be certain that he will not perform sexual acts in front of inappropriate or unwilling audiences.”

 “It’s something we’ve talked about, and considered,” Anosukinom said. “Xio Voe’s boundaries are set a lot farther out than mine are. But he’s been very generous and very willing to make adjustments, for my sake, and I want to keep his trust by not pushing him too far.”

It is interesting that they didn't talk about Kudorin need to have, and his siblings need to emotionally feel close to Xio Voe, since this is the main theme of this issue they are having.  I am wondering what the reason Selorin had to initiate a visit to Satatunin. We know Rini just wants to see Xio Voe naked. And I am sure there is a bit of that in them all. But if Selorin, or the other brothers knew about how difficult it is going to be, and how it will effect Kudorin and Xio Voe's relationship, would they not want to support the newlyweds and allow for Xio Voe to proceed at a pace that allows for Xio Voe to develop the emotional closeness they all need at a pace that works for Xio Voe and Kudorin? And you are right Darkm, Kudorin needs to stop pushing. He knows the willingness is there for Xio Voe to change, Xio Voe trusts him and is willing to compromise. There will be other visits and other times. He can see into the future as Anosukinom, and I am sure he can weigh all the possibilities. If pushing now yields the best results for them all in the end, we too have to trust that this is the best road for them to go down. Even if it means some rain and some slamming doors.

Tano's too cute. I love his curious quick mind. The wide and varied conversations he and Remin have. I think that Remin using a version of exposure therapy, like treating a phobia, to cure Tano of his associating sex with not cooking, is brilliant. Truly, digging deep to expose the underbelly of Tano's associating sex with not cooking, may not be necessary, just getting him over it may be enough.  I want all the deets too about the visit as well.

And we found out why Desin stopped at the police station. Looks like he and Sebado may have a nice fling since we can't see into Sebado's thoughts. But, We didn't see into Xio Voe's thoughts till after Kudorin the epiphany that Xio Voe was his King. We didn't see into Naritano's thoughts till Kudorin, and the other Gods indicated their was something special going on. So I guess we have to wait for Divine acknowledgement.

I don't think they had penetrative sex but Talin and Ritek were really cozy.  I loved Talin's observations as well about Anosadim and Xio Voe as well.  And I am glad Anosadim and Xio Voe's lunch was fabulous.

[Shanghi]

It's great that Tano & Remin are getting to know one another better,I'll love to see how Tano's visit to the inatunin goes. But yes he will have to grow a bit more to be more the equal that Remin needs.

Kudorins frustration with his self was palable. He knows he's asking too much too fast of his husband and he feels that he's failing in his duty to make his husband happy. But he so wants everything to be all happy happy joy joy right now. But he can't push. Xio Voe would probably go through with it to make Kudorin happy, but he wouldn't enjoy it and everyone would see that. And that would be just as bad as him not going at all. 

The best suggestion was that is that the other sibs be told...which with the rain & slamming doors they may figure it out anyway......and have them gently suggest that Kudorin & Xio Voe show up the next day. Rini will be disappointed, but he'll live. There will be other times in the future when Xio Voe will choose to participate, not out of a sense of "I've got to do this to make my hubby happy", but because he wants to. 

And I chuckled when Anosanim sat down to watch the show instead of joining. His & Ritek's relationship does seem the more "Friends with Benifits" type. It will be interesting to see Anosanim really falling in love with someone.


Another thought.....I still want to know when Tano first had his problem and what set it off.

[Mountie]

I do to Shanghi  but I am OK if that comes later after Tano has been "cured" of the problem first.   Exposure therapy will cure but not get to the bottom of the issues.

I think Kudorin and Xio Voe showing up the next day is a perfect solution and I don't know why Anosukinom didn't foresee that in his playing out possibilities looking at various futures.  I will trust that if he did play that out, that in the distant future the results weren't what Kudorin wants or needs so he chose confronting the issue immediately and not giving Xio Voe an easy out.  Now, at the beginning of the relationship when Xio Voe is more malleable may actually be the best time to set new patterns.

[CourtneyLee]

I actually hope that Xio Voe and Kudorin don't show up the next day; their absence would be very conspicuous and Xio Voe would never ask Kudorin to stay away. I want them there, I just don't think Xio Voe will be naked. The family swim is a bonding experience and need not be undertaken in birthday suits, as we saw when Talin and Anosanim went to Satatunin and were joined in the pond by Hitari and Ritek. Also, it won't be like it was in the Purple Book when Orinakin, Selorin, Bade, and Vade went with three belas, so it's not like Xio Voe will be engaging in sex in front of them. Orinakin described their typical swim as just horsing around and hanging out and it will probably be like that this time. I think a good initial compromise will be that everyone will be there but no one will naked in the beginning and they'll just wing it. And you never know what Xio Voe will decide in the heat of the moment--he might find that he's more comfortable than he thought he'd be and slip off his swimsuit in the spirit of things.

I think Remin is working Tano's counseling in stages. Stage One is getting him back in touch with himself sexually and getting used to not being tense about arousal and the possibility that he might orgasm. Stage Two might be trying to cook something for himself. Not for Xio Voe or Remin because that would be too much pressure, just making a snack for himself to whoever wanders into the kitchen. That will probably not go well, but that's where Remin will step in with the heavy talk therapy. I think that will be when the root of the problem is uncovered.

As for why Selorin put forth the idea of a trip to Satatunin, I think that's the welcome-home surprise he and Xio Voe came up with for Orinakin and Bade when they spoke about it a few chapters ago. Orinakin likes just being home and close to his family when he returns from a trip, but he always has to dive into work, so Selorin and Xio Voe probably arranged for everyone to take the weekend off and chill at Satatunin. The possibility of seeing Xio Voe naked was probably just a bonus.

[Mountie]

You have such a level head CL.  I think they will come up with a compromise that will suit everyone just like you suggested.  I obviously need to go back and read the last chapters.  I was O.o at Talin and Ritek, forgetting about both the hand job after the chastity/buttplug escapade and the promised "makeout" session after lunch.

Another thing about Desin and Sebano.  It think, other than Elee (sp?) Desin has never had a boyfriend per say.  I wonder if Sebano will become Desin's first boyfriend?

[CourtneyLee]

I'm rereading this chapter before I read 244 and I noticed this bit in the very beginning that didn't jump out before but just hit me when I reread it. It's when Tano is seeing Remin's office fore the first time.

“It’s…”  Where to begin, how to describe?  It was a magical fantasy, it was a golden treasure, it was mysterious and beautiful, it was inspiring and captivating, it was crammed full of religion and history and culture, it was infinitely amazing at first glance but only more and more fascinating with each layer.  “…very much like you."

How romantic. More fascinating with each layer? I wonder how hard it will hit Tano that he's in love with the royal high priest.